Edward Bond and the Aesthetics of Violence

This book probes into the aesthetics of representation of violence in the plays of Edward Bond, reflecting often on the aesthetics inherent in violence. His radical approach to human aggression is critically analyzed here taking into consideration his intricate social and artistic theories and the general ferment of creative and critical practices.

Violence is one of the most persistently repeated subjects in various discourses from the beginning of the twentieth century, and it has led to serious ontological disquisitions. When it comes to the treatment of violence in drama, there has never been anyone more iconoclastic than Edward Bond (1934-2024). Critically exploring some twelve original plays from the first four decades of his career, and consistent development of thoughts about and treatment of violence, the book takes into consideration his sociocultural theories and dramatic innovations. With a keen awareness of various forms of violence, Bond offered his audiences fresh perspectives on destructive human behaviour while pressing the urgency of surmounting its menace. The course of his creative engagement with the subject, predicated upon his perception of drama/theatre and its social resonance, is explored in the book to shed light on what is theatrical, what is sociological and above all what is aesthetic about violence.

Autorentext

ANGSHUMAN MUKHOPADHYAY is an Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of English at Prafulla Chandra College, Kolkata. He has been associated with Shri Shikshayatan College as a Guest Faculty in the Department of English (postgraduate section) since 2012. He completed his PhD on Edward Bond from the University of Calcutta in 2019.