Date Approved
2011
Degree Type
Open Access Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department or School
Communication, Media and Theatre Arts
Committee Member
Lee Stille, PhD, Chair
Committee Member
Craig Dionne, PhD
Abstract
This thesis provides a close reading of Friedrich Nietzsche’s The Birth of Tragedy, with particular attention paid to his use of the “principle of individuation.” The major question this thesis confronts is whether Nietzsche’s text might provide illuminative insights for the study of contemporary dramatic literature. Another question addressed by the thesis is whether Nietzsche’s text may offer dramaturgical alternatives to the strictures of naturalism. These questions are considered in relation to the play Dead Man’s Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl. In considering how Ruhl’s play might be reflective of Nietzsche’s own ideological and artistic investments, the author found that a deeper philosophical engagement with Nietzsche’s notion of the tragic helped to suggest new avenues for the study and the production of current dramatic literature.
Recommended Citation
Sheaffer, Adam, "Nietzsche’s “Toys of Desperation” or The Birth of Tragedy as dramaturgical alternative" (2011). Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 313.
https://commons.emich.edu/theses/313