Establishing Our Boundaries: English-Canadian Theatre Critcism

[Anton Wagner]

One of the largest Canadian cultural research projects was concluded at this year's Congress of the Social Sciences and Humanities at Bishop's University June 4 with the publication launch by the University of Toronto Press of Establishing Our Boundaries: English-Canadian Theatre Criticism.
 
The book, edited by Anton Wagner, is the first cultural history of Canada as seen through the eyes of twenty-one leading theatre critics commenting on the creation of an indigenous Canadian theatre and drama over two centuries.

The nation-wide research project by seventeen members of the Association for Canadian Theatre Research/Association de la recherche theatrale au Canada, was made possible by a $50,000 grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Additional project funding was provided by the Herman Voaden Trust Fund, the HSSFC Aid to Scholarly Publications Programme, York University, McGill University, Mount Saint Vincent University, Ryerson Polytechnic University, Brock University, the University of Saskatchewan, and the University College of the Cariboo.

The book's eighteen essays cover the range of influential theatre reviewing from the 1820s to 1998, and from Halifax to Vancouver. The collection addresses the ongoing dilemma of the artist and cultural industries in Canada: how to create for local and international audiences in competition with the best theatre and drama the world has to offer.

Establishing Our Boundaries examines this tension between the positive stimulus of open artistic borders and cultural globalization--particularly the preponderant influence of American popular culture on Canadian artistic creation and self-expression. The essays analyze the attempts of theatre critics to stimulate an indigenous Canadian theatre and drama, and their views on religious, moral and political issues, censorship, cultural colonialism and cultural nationalism, government support of the arts, English-French cultural relations, and Canadian national, regional and minority identities.

The University of Toronto Press has extended its 20% publication discount off the $60 428-page hard cover price to ACTR/ARTC members. Please quote the "UTP Marketing Code 1025" when ordering copies from the UTP toll-free number 1-800-565-9523.

Establishing Our Boundaries: English-Canadian Theatre Criticism. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1999. 
         
Introduction: 

"Establishing Our Boundaries: English-Canadian Theatre Criticism"--Anton Wagner

Editor/Critics:

"From Puffery to Criticism--William Lyon Mackenzie, Joseph Howe and Daniel Morrison: Theatre Criticism in Halifax and Toronto 1826-1857"--Patrick O'Neill    

Reviewer/Critics:

"The Critic as Reviewer: E.R. Parkhurst at the Toronto Mail and Globe 1876-1924"--Ross Stuart   

"The Cosmopolitan, the Cultural Nationalist and the Egocentric Critic: Harriet Walker, Charles W. Handscomb and Charles H. Wheeler in Winnipeg 1898-1906"--Douglas Arrell    

Cultural Nationalism:

"Hector Willoughby Charlesworth and the Nationalization of Cultural Authority 1890-1945"--Denis Salter     

"Saving the Nation's Aesthetic Soul: B.K. Sandwell at the Montreal Herald 1900-1914 and Saturday Night 1932-1951"--Anton Wagner    

"Becoming Actively Creative: Dr. Lawrence Mason, The Globe's Critic 1924-1939"
--Anton Wagner    

"Herbert Whittaker, Reporting From the Front: Montreal Gazette 1937-1949 and the Globe and Mail 1949-1975"--Jennifer Harvie and Richard Paul Knowles	

"Criticism in a Canadian Social Context: Nathan Cohen's Theatre Criticism 1946-1971"--Don Rubin    

"In Hope and Anger: Oscar Ryan at the Canadian Tribune 1955-1988" --Mayte Gómez    

"The Classical Humanist: Jamie Portman at the Calgary Herald 1959-1975 and the Southam News Service 1975-1987"--Moira Day    

"The Archetypal Enthusiast: Urjo Kareda at the Toronto Star 1971-1975"--Denis Johnston    

"The Critic as Cultural Nationalist: Don Rubin at the Toronto Star 1968-1972 and the Canadian Theatre Review 1974-1983"--Ira Levine    

The Post-Nationalist Period:

"Subverting Modernisms in B.C.: Christopher Dafoe at the Vancouver Sun 1968-1975"--James Hoffman   

"Journalist or Critic?: Brian Brennan at the Calgary Herald 1975-1988"--Diane Bessai   

"The Iconoclast Sceptic on the Beat: Gina Mallet at the Toronto Star 1976-1984"
--Alan Filewod    

"Establishing Contact Between Two Cultures: Marianne Ackerman at the Montreal Gazette 1983-1987"--Leanore Lieblein 

"Theatre: Transgression or Tribal Celebration--Ray Conlogue at the Globe and Mail 1978-1997"--Robert Nunn    

Selected Bibliography:--Anton Wagner    






 

 


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