Kovács Tivadar szerk.: Theatrum — Színháztudományi értesítő 1963/1

Idegen nyelvű ismertetések

some futile attempts to unite them in one organization. It was only in 1952 that the history of Hungarian theatre research in its present institutional form began. After this introduction Dr. Hont defined the subject of theatrical sciences. According to his definition the science of the theatre is dealing with a particular form of man's social activity, in the course of which not objects, but theatrical actions, reflecting real actions are produced. Thus Hungáriául theatre research examines stage-actions that reflect real actions and that are called to life by the creative work of the artists. Therefore besides the written facts the unwritten material has to be examined also; and even the written material - including the drama - has to be traced back to the preceding actions. Furthermore the science of the theatre widens its sphere of activity beyond the theatrical establishments, since theatrical phenomena can be amply found in everyday life and in other branches of art also (e.g. first of all in film and literature, but in music and In the fine arts too.) Without the results and methods of theatre research these phenomena cannot be accurately defined. Besides the collection and systematization of facts the methods of reconstruction and transposition are the most important means of theatre research. The facts in our possession are only fragments of the often ephemeral theatrical phenomena. At the re-establishing of the true subject of theatre research the most accurate, subsequent reconstruction of the phenomena is required. The correct appreciation of a phenomenon, however, is only possible if we examine it under the natural circumstances of its occurence. We have to be careful though to avoid mistakes lest our appreciation should become incorrect and the generalization misleading. - 133 -