Bodily Passions: Physiognomy and Drama in Giovan Battista Della Porta
This article explores the intersections of physiognomic knowledge and drama in the works of Neapolitan naturalist and playwright Giovan Battista Della Porta (1535-1616). It first looks at references to theatreclassical drama in particularin Della Porta's writings on physiognomy, thus showing...
| Published in: | Renaissance and reformation |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Iter Press
[2017]
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| In: |
Renaissance and reformation
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| RelBib Classification: | CD Christianity and Culture KAG Church history 1500-1648; Reformation; humanism; Renaissance KBJ Italy NBE Anthropology |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
| Summary: | This article explores the intersections of physiognomic knowledge and drama in the works of Neapolitan naturalist and playwright Giovan Battista Della Porta (1535-1616). It first looks at references to theatreclassical drama in particularin Della Porta's writings on physiognomy, thus showing that Latin comic plays provided the naturalist with a gallery of stock characters able to summarize the alleged interdependence of physical and moral traits. The article then analyzes the various ways in which Della Portawho was a prolific author of comediesbrought his physiognomic expertise into his own experience as a playwright. The study of these two different perspectives on the relation between physiognomy and drama reveals that, far from being a direct translation of physiognomic theories, Della Porta's dramatic production deploys an ironic and almost paradoxical take on physiognomy that aims to challenge (if not actually subvert) the very principles of the discipline. Cet article explore les interactions entre la physionomie et le drame dans les oeuvres du naturaliste et dramaturge napolitain Giovan Battista Della Porta (1535-1616). On examine d'abord les références que fait Della Porta au théâtre en particulier à la tragédie classique dans ses écrits sur la physionomie, avant de montrer que le théâtre comique latin a fourni au naturaliste une panoplie de personnages stéréotypés lui permettant de mettre en avant l'interdépendance présumée entre traits physiques et traits moraux. L'article poursuit en analysant les diverses façons dont Della Porta, auteur prolifique de comédies, a exploité dans son travail ses connaissances en physionomie et son expérience de dramaturge. L'étude de ces deux aspects de la relation entre physionomie et théâtre montre que l'oeuvre dramatique de Della Porta déploie une approche ironique et presque paradoxale de la physionomie qui, bien loin d'être une traduction littérale des théories physionomiques, vise à remettre en question, voire à inverser, les principes fondamentaux de cette discipline. |
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| ISSN: | 2293-7374 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Renaissance and reformation
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