Review by Choice Review
Philosophy of the Performing Arts is a careful and detailed study in analytic philosophical aesthetics. Davies (McGill Univ.) focuses on specific themes that he began to address in Art as Performance (CH, Jul'04, 41-6446). There, Davies gave a definition of art in terms of the events surrounding the making of artworks; here he homes in on performance artworks in particular. He carefully and skillfully examines music, dance, theater, and literature, though music gets the lion's share of the attention. Engaging other notable philosophers of aesthetics, such as Levinson, Goodman, Kivy, and Wollheim, the author locates his relatively novel views of art in the context of these other more traditional theorists. This is a challenging read both intellectually and simply as prose. Davies's enthusiasm and erudition shine through the sometimes intricate metaphysical heavy lifting. Though undergraduates may have a tough time with the level of detail, this is an important contribution to the ontology and appreciation of the performing arts debates. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students through professional/practitioners. P. Jenkins Marywood University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review