French Literature Reviews - 2026

A. Garcia Sanchez, La Scène provoquée
Theatre and Performance

Alberto Garcia Sanchez, La Scène provoquée

Paris: L'Harmattan, coll. "Univers théâtral", 2014.

128 p.

EAN 9782343032191 (EAN Ebook format Pdf: 9782336344836)

14.00 EUR (digital version: 10.80 EUR)

Publisher's overview:

The world of theatre has undergone significant changes. The influence of television and subsequently the internet, the rise of infotainment, the cult of profitability, and shifting ethical values have all impacted the methods of dramatic creation. Theatre frequently resorts to provocation, yet in truth, it has long since pulled its punches. This is a critical perspective on the evolution of the performing arts, inviting reflection on how to give them a renewed impetus.

Published in the Univers théâtral collection by L'Harmattan, this concise study examines the profound mutations affecting the contemporary stage. Alberto Garcia Sanchez investigates how the rise of television, digital media, commercial pressures, and changing ethical frameworks have reshaped dramatic creation. Rather than accepting these developments as inevitable progress, the author offers a sharp critique of modern performance practices, questioning whether contemporary artistic provocation retains its genuine subversive power or has instead become a predictable aesthetic convention.

This timely overview will appeal to theatre practitioners, students, and researchers interested in the sociology of the arts and the aesthetics of modern performance. By challenging readers to rethink the purpose and methods of the performing arts today, the book serves as a valuable resource for anyone concerned with the cultural vitality of theatre. It provides essential conceptual tools for understanding the tension between artistic integrity and commercial demands in the twenty-first century cultural landscape.