Theatres of Human Sacrifice : From Ancient Ritual to Screen Violence

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ix PROLOGOS 1(20) Tragedy in Melodrama Theatre's Material Ghosts and Gods Ethical Edges A Sacrificial Imperative PART I: CATHARSIS BETWEEN SACRIFICIAL CULTURES ONE Blood Sacrifice in Ancient Greece and Aztec America 21(26) Theatre within Ritual Transcendental Savagery Altar-Egos and Body Parts From Solar to Proscenium Mirrors The Bottom of the Frame Animistic Psychology, Puppetry, and Dancing Hearts Cathartic Encounters with the Real TWO Roman, Aztec, and NFL "Gladiators" 47(30) Sacrificial Shades The Metaphysics of Script and Score Im-mortal Dances, Costumes, and Props Star Powers Audience Participation and Alienation Melodramatic or Tragic Catharsis PART II: SCREENING REAL MONSTERS THREE Choral Edges in Frankenstein and Natural Born Killers 77(34) A Monstrous Gaze Slices of Space and Time Edges of Communion in Frankenstein Violence in the House Cruel Affect and A-Effect as Cathartic Cures Choral Born Killers Male and Female Monsters FOUR Brechtian and Aztec Violence in Zoot Suit 111(14) Patriarchal Sacrifices Brechtian Ixiptla Onscreen Audience Effects of the Perverse Superego FIVE Martyrs and Scapegoats in the Films of Scorsese and Coppola 125(54) Body and Blood Offerings Between Animal and Divine Lucifer Within Sacrifices That Cannot Be Refused The Sympathetic Inheritance of Evil Postmodern Flower War EXODOS 179(6) NOTES 185(42) BIBLIOGRAPHY 227(26) INDEX 253