Antonin Artaud: A Critical Reader

Addicted to drugs from an early age and incarcerated in a series of mental asylums throughout his adult life, Antonin Artaud was nevertheless one of the most brilliant artists to emerge from the twentieth century. His writing influenced entire generations, from the French post-structuralists to the American beatniks. He was a key figure in the European cinema of the 1920s and 30s, and his drawings and sketches have been displayed in some of the major art galleries of the Western world. Possibly best known for his concept of a 'theatre of cruelty,' his legacy has been to re-define the functions and possibilities of live performance. This unique resource brings together for the first time a selection of the best critical writing available on the key themes of Artaud's life and work from critics such as Jacques Derrida, Julia Kristeva, Maurice Blanchot, Herbert Blau, Leo Bersani and Susan Sontag. Containing some of the most intellectually adventurous and emotionally passionate writings on this classicand controversial figure, this book is an essential read for Artaud scholars working in a number of arts disciplines, including theatre, film, philosophy, literature and fine art.