The Seige of Jerusalem

Looking through Artaud's programme list, i find some of the choices confusing (as Yann mentioned), however, some also seem to be entirely fitting and logical. For example, the Fall of Jerusalem seems, to me anyway, to be the most appropriate selection. The Theatre of Cruelty is looking for something with relevance; something that still has a bearing on contemporary society. What Artaud remarks about Sophocles is that his language has lost touch with 'the rude and epilectic rythms of our lives', but the themes about man's fallibility are universal. This is applicable to the Fall of Jerusalem, where the notions of 'intellectual agitation' and 'metaphysical disputes' are present, but there is no restriction by a text. Artaud would be free to take a historic event and story, as widely known as the tale of Oedipus, without being limited by out of date language or stangnant dialogue.

The story has all the elemets of an Artaudian piece of theatre; the chaotic spectacle that could quite easily 'surround' the spectator and the sense of 'abandon' and 'panic' that would allow for an dramatic and intellectual piece of theatre. It is expressive in its themes and could equally be as expressive in its execution. It begins with a tall city and ends with destruction, which is a suitable metaphor for Artaud's intentions to break down of the audience sensiblities (both emotional and physical). When the audience leave the space, a physical change would have taken place, 'i propose a theatre in which violent physical images crush and hypnotise the sensibility of the spectator seized by the theatre as by a whirlwind of higher forces'.

Also, is anyone else having trouble finding the Van Gogh reading? I have tried the library and the electronic resources (Project Muse, JSTOR, Google scholar) and i cann'y seem t' find it! Any one had any luck thus far?

Love