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Abstract: George M. Cohan reshaped the American theatre and created the modern
musical. His success is legendary. How did he develop his theatrical ability? More broadly,
how does any actor relate to an audience? Cognitive science has revealed the physiological
mechanisms that allow humans to relate to one another: conduits called mirror neurons, so
named because they reflect the actions of ... read moreothers within the viewer's brain. Cohan
intuitively mapped the mirror neurons of the audience, allowing him to create productions
targeted to his specific, early-twentieth-century American audience. He created theatre in
harmony with the tastes of American audiences, democratically negotiated between himself
and people of his era. Intuitively, by chance or study, Cohan's mirror neurons were
particularly attuned to his audiences; as such, cognitive theory provides an effective
framework for studying the relationship between the Cohan and his
audiences.
Thesis (M.A.)--Tufts University, 2012.
Submitted to the Dept. of Drama.
Advisor: Downing Cless.
Committee: Barbara Grossman, and Monica Ndounou.
Keywords: Theater history, and Neurosciences.read less
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