Plays, performances and power struggles - examining copyright’s ‘integrity’ in the field of theatre

McDonagh, Luke 2014. Plays, performances and power struggles - examining copyright’s ‘integrity’ in the field of theatre. Modern Law Review 77 (4) , pp. 533-562. 10.1111/1468-2230.12078

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Abstract

This article explores the notion of ‘integrity’ under copyright law by analysing examples of ’integrity-based objections’ in the field of theatre. These objections typically involve playwrights objecting to changes being made to their copyright works by other parties, such as directors and actors. This analysis is deepened by the use of two concepts from the field of art theory – ‘aura’, as put forward by Walter Benjamin, and ‘trajectory’, as outlined by Bruno Latour and Adam Lowe. Finally, to shed further light on the issues raised, the work of Pierre Bourdieu is used to present new empirical research recently undertaken by the author in the field of UK theatre. This research demonstrates that ‘power struggles’ are a common feature of theatrical collaboration; that copyright is deeply implicated in the way such power struggles are conceived; and moreover, that resolving these power struggles successfully – including taking account of ‘integrity-based objections’ – is crucial to theatrical practice.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Law
Subjects:	K Law > K Law (General) P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN2000 Dramatic representation. The Theater
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Copyright; dramatic works; integrity; aura; trajectory; empirical
Publisher:	Wiley
ISSN:	1468-2230
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Date of Acceptance:	February 2014
Last Modified:	07 May 2023 11:50
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/65116

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