Artaud’s Artaud’s Theater of CrueltyTheater of Cruelty

IntroductionIntroduction

During the early 1930s, the French During the early 1930s, the French dramatist and actor Antonin Artaud put dramatist and actor Antonin Artaud put forth a theory for a Surrealist theatre called forth a theory for a Surrealist theatre called the Theatre of the Theatre of CrueltyCruelty. .

Based on ritual and fantasy, this form of Based on ritual and fantasy, this form of theatre launches an attack on the theatre launches an attack on the spectators' subconscious in an attempt to spectators' subconscious in an attempt to release deep-rooted fearsrelease deep-rooted fears

Theatre of Theatre of CrueltyCruelty usually minimizes the usually minimizes the text by emphasizing text by emphasizing ::

screams,screams,

inarticulate cries, inarticulate cries,

symbolic gestures. symbolic gestures.

Antonin ArtaudAntonin ArtaudSept. 4, 1896 - March 4, 1948 Sept. 4, 1896 - March 4, 1948

French dramatist, poet, actor, and French dramatist, poet, actor, and theoretician of the Surrealist movement theoretician of the Surrealist movement who attempted to replace the “bourgeois” who attempted to replace the “bourgeois” classical theatre with his “theatre of classical theatre with his “theatre of cruelty,” a primitive ceremonial experience cruelty,” a primitive ceremonial experience intended to liberate the human intended to liberate the human subconscious and reveal man to himself.subconscious and reveal man to himself.

Early YearsEarly Years

Artaud’s infancy was a difficult one Artaud’s infancy was a difficult one

At the age of four, Antonin had a severe At the age of four, Antonin had a severe attack of meningitisattack of meningitis

He also suffered from neuralgia, He also suffered from neuralgia, stammering and severe bouts of stammering and severe bouts of depression.depression.

He was institutionalized by his parents in a He was institutionalized by his parents in a sanatorium for five years, during which sanatorium for five years, during which time he read the works of Rimbaud, time he read the works of Rimbaud, Baudelaire, and PoeBaudelaire, and Poe

In 1920, Artaud moved to Paris and tried In 1920, Artaud moved to Paris and tried to publish some of his poemsto publish some of his poems

He sent his Surrealist poetry L'Ombilic des He sent his Surrealist poetry L'Ombilic des limbes (1925; “Umbilical Limbo”) and Le limbes (1925; “Umbilical Limbo”) and Le Pèse-nerfs (1925; Nerve Scales) to the Pèse-nerfs (1925; Nerve Scales) to the influential critic Jacques Rivière, thus influential critic Jacques Rivière, thus beginning their long correspondence beginning their long correspondence

He studies acting in Paris and made his debut in He studies acting in Paris and made his debut in Aurélien Lugné-Poë's Dadaist-Surrealist Théâtre Aurélien Lugné-Poë's Dadaist-Surrealist Théâtre de l'Oeuvre. de l'Oeuvre.

Expelled from the Surrealist movement when he Expelled from the Surrealist movement when he co-founded Théâtre Alfred Jarry with Roger co-founded Théâtre Alfred Jarry with Roger Vitrac. (they ran this theater together for two Vitrac. (they ran this theater together for two years, from 1926-1928).years, from 1926-1928).

He produced and directed original works, as well He produced and directed original works, as well as pieces by Claudel and Strindbergas pieces by Claudel and Strindberg

Artaud also developed a passion for Artaud also developed a passion for cinemacinemaHe wrote the script for the first Surrealist He wrote the script for the first Surrealist film, The Seashell and the Clergyman, film, The Seashell and the Clergyman, directed by Germaine Dulac.directed by Germaine Dulac.The film is about a clergy man who, The film is about a clergy man who, obsessed with a general’s woman, has obsessed with a general’s woman, has strange visions of death and lust, strange visions of death and lust, struggling against his own eroticism. struggling against his own eroticism.

Artaud and his Artaud and his Theater of Cruelty did Theater of Cruelty did not achieve popularity not achieve popularity during his lifetimeduring his lifetime

At the film's premier, writer Antonin Artaud, who At the film's premier, writer Antonin Artaud, who was obviously not pleased by what director was obviously not pleased by what director Germain Dulac did to his screenplay, shouted at Germain Dulac did to his screenplay, shouted at the screen insulting her as a cow.the screen insulting her as a cow.

The British Board of Film Censors banned this The British Board of Film Censors banned this film in the UK in 1927, saying, "This film is so film in the UK in 1927, saying, "This film is so obscure as to have no apparent meaning. If obscure as to have no apparent meaning. If there is a meaning, it is doubtless there is a meaning, it is doubtless objectionable."objectionable."

Artaud also acted in Artaud also acted in several moviesseveral movies

He played Marat in He played Marat in Abel Gance's film Abel Gance's film Napoléon (1927) and Napoléon (1927) and appeared as a friar in appeared as a friar in Carl Dreyer's classic Carl Dreyer's classic film La Passion de film La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc (1928). Jeanne d'Arc (1928).

In 1938, Artaud published “In 1938, Artaud published “The Theatre The Theatre and Its Doubleand Its Double”, the most important of his ”, the most important of his worksworks

This book contained the two manifestos of This book contained the two manifestos of the Theater of Cruelty.the Theater of Cruelty.

In his book In his book The Theatre and Its DoublThe Theatre and Its Doublee, , Artaud expressed his admiration for Artaud expressed his admiration for Eastern forms of theatreEastern forms of theatre

Final YearsFinal Years

Artaud was Artaud was committed to a committed to a psychiatric hospital psychiatric hospital from 1937 to 1946 from 1937 to 1946

Antonin Artaud's final work was Antonin Artaud's final work was "To Have "To Have Done With The Judgment Of GodDone With The Judgment Of God.“.“

The work was recorded in the studios of The work was recorded in the studios of the French Radio at the end of 1947 the French Radio at the end of 1947

Artaud died month laterArtaud died month later because he was because he was disappointed disappointed from hisfrom his work. work.

In January 1948, Artaud was diagnosed In January 1948, Artaud was diagnosed with intestinal cancer. He died shortly with intestinal cancer. He died shortly afterwards on March 4, 1948 afterwards on March 4, 1948

QuoteQuote

““The truth of life lies in the impulsiveness The truth of life lies in the impulsiveness of matter. The mind of man has been of matter. The mind of man has been poisoned by concepts. Do not ask him to poisoned by concepts. Do not ask him to be content, ask him only to be calm, to be content, ask him only to be calm, to believe that he has found his place. believe that he has found his place. But But only the madman is really calm.only the madman is really calm. “ “

BibliographyBibliography

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