This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 edition. Excerpt: ...in and by word or act conveys the consciousness and suggestion to his audience, he is going beyond the bounds of decency and his play should be condemned. But, it will be urged, who is to be the judge of this? Will not one person's sense of decency be outraged sooner than another's? It is true; and perhaps the ...
Read More
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 edition. Excerpt: ...in and by word or act conveys the consciousness and suggestion to his audience, he is going beyond the bounds of decency and his play should be condemned. But, it will be urged, who is to be the judge of this? Will not one person's sense of decency be outraged sooner than another's? It is true; and perhaps the only answer to this objection is that those with a highly impressionable sense of decency, which frequently is nothing more than a deficiency in the sense of make-believe and a temperamental inability to look at any subject except in relation to reality, had better stay away from the average farce-comedy. But let them be very careful how they try to influence others to stay away by raising the cry of immorality. To do so will only defeat their good intentions. It will stir a desire in many people, who would otherwise have been indifferent to the piece, to go and see it, and will ensure that their condition of mind as they witness it will be entirely immoral. They will then go to the play with an unclean curiosity and watch out for suggestions of pruriency. Even if they do not find them, as possibly they will not, they will have suffered some contamination; not, however, so much by contact with the play as with the suggestion of its well-intentioned censors. It is the recognition of this that makes, or should make, a critic so chary of condemning a play on the score of immorality. Probably his wisest course, if he sincerely desires to deter people from seeing it, is to treat it with a stony neglect. But this book is not meant for critics, who, after all, are only the advance posts of criticism. The real judgment of a play rests with the public. But, you will ask, if this is so, is it not the duty of the critic to warn them, and the duty also...
Read Less
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.