Rings of Desire: Circus History and Representation

by Helen Stoddart

The circus has been both one of the most influential forms of international popular entertainment and yet at the same time remains almost entirely absent from academic studies of popular theatrical forms. This book offers readers an introduction to the cultural history of the circus and gives an account of the dominant characteristics of the circus's aesthetic practices and relates these to the sometimes precarious developments, changes and variations in its economic organization, architecture and social status. The book goes on to outline the particular challenges that this essentially live, dangerous and body-centred form presents to literary and film representation and does so through the particular examples of works by Charles Dickens, Federico Fellini and Wim Wenders. This wide-ranging and accessible book offers ways of thinking about the meaning and significance of the circus as a specifically modern form of art and entertainment.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Mentai · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up in an opp shop. Although the field has certainly evolved since the mid90s I enjoyed the histórical aspects of this circus book.
But this publication doesn't engage with many major debates, even for the time. For example, in gender studies, queer studies and emerging performance studies.

[Hattie · Rating 3 out of 5]

some really interesting essays... some parts repetitive or obvious, but a good aid to revision.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review:

http://www.greenmanreview.com/book/bo...