“声音之道,与政通矣”——评郭安瑞著《文化中的政治:戏曲表演与清都社会》

“The Interaction between Music and Character of Government:”A Review of Andrea S. Goldman's Opera and the City: The Politics of Culture in Beijing,1770 —1900

《文化中的政治:戏曲表演与清都社会》一书结合戏曲史研究"向内"和"向外"的考察路径,十分立体地呈现出清代中后期北京戏曲文化与外部环境多元而复杂的关联互动。郭安瑞从文化政治的视角出发,论析了清廷和不同社会群体如何通过操控或参与戏曲活动,使之服务于各自的需求和目的,从而揭示戏曲文化与权力之间的多重关系。该书是清代社会文化史研究和中国戏曲史研究领域的一项重要新成果。但作者对清中叶戏曲活动中国家与社会紧张关系的强调,和关于19世纪后期清廷对待民间戏曲政策的论断,似不无商榷余地。

Employing a two-pronged method,this book sheds light on the interaction between Beijing's theatrical culture and its external environment in the mid-and late Qing.It explores how and for what reason the imperial court and social groups manipulated or participated in theatrical activities,revealing the multifaceted relation of drama and power.It does contribute to the studies in Qing's sociocultural history and the history of Chinese drama.Nevertheless,its emphasis on the state-societal intension embodied in theatrical activities and allegation regarding Qing's concerned policy in the late 1800s are open to question.