Drama and feeling

Drama and Feeling continues Richard Courtney's examination of the role of dramatic acts - from children's play through social ritual and creative drama to theatre - in human development. A leading figure in the world of drama education, Courtney looks at how feelings are generated, attended to, and deepened through dramatic acts and shows that feelings are an intrinsic part of how and why we learn.

Courtney describes dramatic acts that generate deep and significant feelings that cannot be expressed directly but can only be elicited through metaphoric acts. He argues that the purpose of drama is to transmit feelings to others through metaphor, thus creating consciousness and self-consciousness. To show that this is the case, he dissects the feeling and emotion inherent in dramatic acts and examines them through a semiotic lens.

He also looks at problems facing those who study cognition, feeling, and dramatic action and considers research methods that address these areas. Drama and Feeling makes a case for placing educational drama firmly within the curriculum and provides drama educators with new insight into the dramatic art form and process.