Merce Cunningham: The Modernizing of Modern Dance
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Author Description
Merce Cunningham and the Modernizing of Modern Dance is a complete study of the life and work of this seminal choreographer/dancer. More than just a biography, Copeland explores Cunningham's life story against a backdrop of an entire century of developments in American art. Copeland traces his own experience of Cunningham's dances-from the turbulent late '60s through the experimental works of the '80s and '90s-showing how Cunningham moved dance away from the highly emotional, subjective work of Martha Graham to a return to a new kind of classicism. This book places Cunningham in the forefront of an artistic revolution, a revolution that has its parallels in music (John Cage, and the minimalist composers who followed him), painting (Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg), theater (the "happenings" of the '60s), and dance itself (the Judson School of dancers). An iconclastic and highly readable analysis, this book will be enjoyed by all those interested in the development of the American arts in the 20th century.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates how Merce Cunningham fundamentally altered the trajectory of modern dance by shifting the medium away from subjective emotional expression toward a new, rigorous classicism. Roger Copeland, a scholar of performance and theater, utilizes a blend of biographical detail and critical art history to position Cunningham as a central figure in the 20th-century American avant-garde. By examining the choreographer's collaborative relationships and aesthetic evolution, the text argues that Cunningham's work serves as a bridge between traditional dance forms and the experimental movements of the late 20th century.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A comprehensive analysis of Cunningham's transition from the Martha Graham school to his own independent choreographic style.
- Contextual documentation of the collaborative intersections between dance, music, and visual arts involving figures like John Cage, Jasper Johns, and Robert Rauschenberg.
- A chronological survey of American dance developments spanning from the 1960s through the 1990s.
- Critical examination of the shift toward minimalist and non-narrative performance structures in modern dance.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of postmodern dance and the broader American art scene. Readers often note the clarity of the prose, which successfully balances technical dance analysis with accessible cultural history.
Page Count:
328
Publication Date:
2004-01-01
Publisher:
Taylor & Francis Group
ISBN-10:
0203641981
ISBN-13:
9780203641989
Biography
Modernism
Art History
Dance
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