Spreading the Gospel of the Modern Dance: Newspaper Dance
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Conner, Lynne / Conner, Lynn, PUBLISHER: University ong>ofong> Pittsburgh Press, In ong>theong> fall ong>ofong> , newspaper dance writing in ong>theong> United States evolved from a haphazard and largely throw-away subspecies ong>ofong> music criticism (covered by music and drama critics and sometimes sports and society columnists) into a specialized field ong>ofong> arts reporting and ong>commentaryong>. Lynne Conner investigates ong>theong> watershed moment when New York City's three leading daily newspapers -- ong>theong> New York World, ong>theong> New York Herald Tribune, and ong>theong> New York Times -- all hired full-time dance writers. Her investigation reveals ong>theong> relationship between ong>theong> rise ong>ofong> American concert dance, ong>theong> solo and modern dance movements, and ong>theong> emergence ong>ofong> its corresponding critical discourse, dance writing in American dailies. Conner analyzes ong>theong> social, economic, and cultural issues affecting both forms, and presents a more complex interaction between ong>theong> modern dance and its critical discourse than has been previously understood. At ong>theong> center ong>ofong> her research is ong>theong> work ong>ofong> three pioneering dance writers: Lucile Marsh, Mary E Watkins, and John Martin. A pioneering book in its own right, Spreading ong>theong> Gospel ong>ofong> ong>theong> Modern Dance is ong>theong> first comprehensive history ong>ofong> American dance criticism. "Spreading ong>theong> Gospel ong>ofong> ong>theong> Modern Dance intertwines a history ong>ofong> modern dance with a history ong>ofong> newspaper publishing in a way that sheds new light on both histories. It is persuasive in ong>theong> argument that ong>theong> growth ong>ofong> an art form depends not simply upon ong>theong> creation ong>ofong> innovative works by artists but also upon ong>theong> education and cultivation ong>ofong> its audience, through ong>theong> medium ong>ofong> mass journalism". Noel Carroll, University ong>ofong> Wisconsin "A fascinating account ong>ofong> American newspaper dance criticism.... ong>Ofong>fers apanoramic view ong>ofong> changing styles in ong>theong> format and content ong>ofong> American newspapers, and is ong>theong>refore ong>ofong> interest not only to dance lovers, but also to anyone concerned with trends in ong>theong> media". Jack Anderson, New York Times