The Tyrant and the Martyr: Recent Research on Sovereignty and Theater

This review essay discusses recent research on sovereignty and the performing arts from both historical and theoretical perspectives. I argue that Elden, Ospovat, Welch, and Wolff approach early modern symbolic communication not simply as culture but also as political acts. During the turbulent transition from Absolutism to Enlightenment, performances at the court played a crucial role in negotiating the complex relationship between the sovereign and the subjects. The development of professional ballet, opera, and theater took place amid the decline of sovereignty and the separation between politics and morality.