Based on her award-winning blog, The Feminist Spectator, Jill Dolan presents a lively feminist perspective in reviews and essays on a variety of theatre productions, films and television series-from The Social Network and Homeland to Split Britches' Lost Lounge.
This groundbreaking work in gender and performance, with a new introduction and updated bibliography
The exploration of sexuality as a lens for understanding theatre's creation and reception is at the core of this book. It provides insightful introductions to sexual identity politics and methodologies for interpreting sexuality on stage. Additionally, it includes a curated history of LGBTQ theatre, featuring an analysis of the production "Belle Reprieve" by Split Britches/Bloolips, highlighting the intersection of performance and sexual identity.
In Utopia in Performance, Jill Dolan traces the sense of visceral, emotional and social connection that we experience at the theatre, connections that allow us to feel for a moment not what a better world might look like, but what it might feel like, and how that hopeful utopic sentiment might become motivation for social change.
Exploring the barriers that hinder the advancement of knowledge, this work delves into the intersections of theatre and performance studies, queer studies, and women's studies. It critically examines how these divisions impact scholarly discourse and collaborative efforts, aiming to foster a more integrated understanding across these fields. The book offers insights into the complexities of knowledge production and advocates for a more inclusive approach to academic inquiry.