Performing Power explores 18th-century fabrication of the royal
image by focusing on the example of King Gustav III (1746-1792) -
one of Sweden's most acclaimed and controversial monarchs - who
conspicuously chose theater as the primary media for his
image-making and role construction. The text postulates that Gustav
III was motivated by theater's ability to aid him in fulfilling
Enlightenment's tenet of broadly educating the populace and
inculcating it with royal ideology. That he was an amateur actor,
stage director, and playwright were other engines driving his
choice. The project challenges and expands the commonly accepted
perception of Gustav III's contribution to Swedish theater, which
has generally been limited to founding its National Opera,
developing its national drama, and forming its national dramatic
repertoire. Maria Berlova presents Gustav III as a performing King
who strategically used political events as a framework through
which he could embody the image of the ideal or enlightened monarch
as presented by Voltaire. Through this, Performing Power explores
the tight relationship and complex bond between theatrical arts and
politics. This unique study will be of great interest to students
and scholars in theater studies, 18th-century culture, and
politics.
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