REVEALING THE TEXTUAL MASK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Thesis

 

Presented to

 

The Faculty of the Department of Television, Radio, Film and Theatre

 

San José State University

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Partial Fulfillment

 

of the Requirements for the Degree

 

Master of Arts

 

 

 

 

 

 

by

 

John Jason Buckley

 

May 2009

 

 

 

ABSTRACT

 

REVEALING THE TEXTUAL MASK

 

by John J. Buckley

 

This project explores Peter Hall’s idea that heightened theatrical text functions as an objective visible mask for vocal performance (Hall 45).  The project reviews the vocabulary and representation of vocal form and examines the relationship between structural elements in the text and the resulting vocal form.

The research reveals that, rather than being objective and visible, the textual mask is often subjective and ambiguous.  The objectivity of the mask is challenged by the existence of conflicting textual methods of constructing vocal form.  The visibility is challenged by the lack of consistency among representation systems.

The project concludes that, rather than viewing the textual mask as a monolithic entity that governs vocal form, it is more useful to view each textual element of the mask as having a degree of coupling to vocal form.  Some elements are more tightly coupled to others.  This positions the textual mask as creating possibilities for vocal form, rather than dictating one particular vocal form.  A commitment to one of these possibilities results in a specific vocal form. This vocal form functions more like a mask than the textual structure itself.  The mask of vocal performance lies in the vocal mask rather than the textual mask.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………1

CHAPTER 2: THE VOCABULARY OF VOCAL FORM………….………………...27

CHAPTER 3: HEIGHTENED TEXT AND VOCAL FORM……….…………………38

CHAPTER 4: REPRESENTATION OF VOCAL FORM…………………………….48

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS………………………………………………………78

WORKS CITED………………………………………………………………………84

 

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