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Cornell University Library |
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http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/theatre335.html
Library Research Guide for
Theatre Arts 335:
Modern Drama and Modern Performance
Model by Lee Simonson for Act II of Gluck's Iphigenia in Tauris from Theatre Arts Magazine, December 1917. |  Developing
a Search Strategy
Finding
Background Information
Finding Books
Finding
e-Reference Resources
Finding
Periodical Articles
Finding
Internet Resources
Evaluating
Sources
Citing Sources
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DEVELOPING
A SEARCH STRATEGY
Search strategy is a library term for the process of finding information
in a logical, step-by-step manner. Using a search strategy insures that
you will find the information of material you need as quickly and efficiently
as possible.
Research Steps:
- Choose your topic
- Find background information
- Find books on your topic
- Find periodical articles
- Find networked resources or relevant Web sites
- Evaluate your sources
- Cite your sources
- Hawkins-Dady, Mark. International Dictionary
of Theatre. 3 vol. Chicago: St. James Press,
1992. Uris Ref PN2035 I59 1995
In three volumes, Vol.1 Plays, Vol.2 Playwrights, and Vol.3 Actors, Directors and Designers. Entries for plays provide a synopsis of the play, date of first publication and prodution, and a selected list of critical material. Entries for playwrights provide a discussion of the playwright's work, a list of works, and a short list of general criticism. Entries for actors, directors and designers provide basic biographical information, a list of their roles, and a short list of other biographical sources.
- An International Dictionary of Theatre Language.
Westport: Greenwood, 1985. Olin Ref PN2035
I61
15,000 terms described spanning theater history from ancient times to the present day. Extensive bibliography and numerous cross references make this a valuable research tool.
- Klein, Leonard, gen. ed. Encyclopedia of World Literature in the 20th Century. 4 vols.
Rev. ed. New York: Ungar, 1981. Olin Ref PN 774 L64+ 1981; also Uris Ref PN 41 L64+ 1981
Reviews and reconsiders world literature of the 20th century in an internationalized, comprehensive manner for the scholar, student, and general reader. The four volumes are alphabetically arranged with: a) articles on national literatures in the post W.W. II era, including survey articles on 85 Asian and African literatures; b) topical articles (i.e. cubism, imagism) and c) separate articles on major and representative writers. Transitional 19th to 20th century figures who produced significant work after 1900 have been included. Each article is signed. Extensive cross references, bibliographies, and lists of further works by authors are provided.
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Loney, Glenn. 20th Century Theatre. 2 vols. New York: Facts on File, 1983. Uris Ref PN2189 L84+
This work is designed to "offer an overview of theatre activity in North America and the British Isles since 1900, and to provide a "date-finder" for those who want information about a particular theatre event, production, personality or playhouse." (Preface) Arrangement is chronological, beginning with 1900 and ending with 1979. Within each year, arrangement is by month and covers theatre productions, American and British play premieres, revivals and repertoires, and births, deaths, and debuts. An author, title, subject index at the end of the volume helps to provide access to specific items. There is, in addition, an excellent bibliography of books about the theater, although its arrangement in chronological order by date of publication makes it awkward to use.
- McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Drama: An International Reference Work in
Five Volumes. 2nd ed. 5 vols. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1984. Uris Ref PN
1625 M14+ 1984; also Olin Ref
"The purpose of the book is to present, in the clearest possible format, factual information and critical evaluations of numerous dramatists' work and stature." (Preface) Most entries contain a biographical sketch, a brief critique of the dramatist's work, a selection of synopses of his/her plays, a bibliography of editions and usually a list of critical and biographical works. Emphasis is on English and Western European playwrights. Includes some general essays on drama of the world as well as many photographs taken during actual productions.
- Mobley, Jonnie Patricia. NTC's dictionary of theatre and drama terms. Lincolnwood, IL: National Textbook Co., c1992. Olin Ref PN 2035 M63x 1992
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Banham, Martin, ed. The Cambridge Guide to Theatre.Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1992.
Olin Ref PN2035 C17
Alphabetic listing of theatre culture and history, attempting to present "a comprehensive view of the history and present practice of theatre in all parts of the world, thus pointing to the dynamic interaction of performance traditions from all cultures in present day theatre."(Preface)
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Hartnoll, Phyllis, ed. Oxford Companion to the Theatre.4th edition. New York: Oxford, l983.
Uris Ref PN 2035 H33 1983; also Olin
This handbook provides information on every aspect of the theatre up to the end of l982. Coverage is international in scope. Some articles deal with contemporary theatre in foreign countries, dramatic criticism, musical comedy, scenery, opera, Shakespearean Festivals, and blacks in the American theatre. All articles are signed. Separate sections in the back include a select list of theatre books, and notes on the illustrations.
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The New York Times Theater Reviews. New York: New York Times and Arno, 1971- .
Uris Ref PN 2266 N53; also Olin Ref
Facsimile reprints of the reviews of theater productions as they appeared in the New York Times. Arranged chronologically, the set also includes appendices of awards and prizes and of productions and runs by season as well as indexes by title, production company, and personal name. The first 21 volumes cover the years 1870-1970. Since then volumes have been published biannually.
- Theatrical Designers : an International Biographical Dictionary edited by Thomas J. Mikotowicz. New York : Greenwood Press, 1992.
Olin Ref PN2096 A1 T37
One-volume, alphabetically arranged collection of signed, brief biographies of important figures in the history of theatrical design. Includes an historical overview of the subject, a chronological list of designers, and a selected bibliography.
See also Literature Resource Center (listed below) and resources under SELECTED PERIODICAL INDEXES AND ABSTRACTS below.
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Carpenter, Charles A. Modern Drama Scholarship and Criticism, 1966-1980: an International Bibliography. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1986. Olin Ref Z5781 C29
"A classified, selective list of publications on world drama since Ibsen. the volume is intended mainly for students of modern dramatic literature. Play and playwright, rather than performance and performer, hold center stage." (Preface)
- ________________. Modern Drama Scholarship and Criticism, 1981-1990: an International Bibliography. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, . Olin Ref Z5781 C291 1997
Updates and continues the previous volume, with additions and corrections to it. Emphasizes contemporary theory and performance theory more than its predecessor.
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International Bibliography of Theatre. New York: Publishing
Denter for Cultural Resources, CUNY, 1982-1998. Olin +Z5783 I61; Last 5 volumes in Ref
A comprehensive annual bibliography covering theatre on an international basis. There is some delay in getting annual volumes out, but an extensive subject index makes up for the lack of currency.
- Palmer, Helen H., comp. European Drama Criticism, 1900-1975. 2nd ed. Hamden: Shoe String, 1977. Uris Ref Z 5781 P17 1977; also Olin Ref Z 5781 P17 E9 1977
A comprehensive listing of criticism which has appeared in books and periodicals in English and foreign languages, from 1900 to 1975. Arrangement is alphabetical by playwright, with plays alphabetized under the playwright. Cross references are included.
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Britannica Online
Offers the full text of the multivolume paper encyclopedia set, including its numerous bibliographies, maps, and photographs, as well as supplying links to related Web sites for many of the topics covered.
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Literature
Resource Center [Farmington Hills, MI] : Gale Group, c1999-. (Library Catalog or
e-Reference Resources)
"The Literature Resource Center (LRC) is a complete literature reference database designed for the undergraduate student. LRC combines biographical, bibliographical, and contextual information to deliver a complete reference/resource package on authors and their works (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, history, and journalism). Centering on respected Gale sources, including Contemporary Authors, Dictionary of Literary Biography, and Contemporary Literary Criticism, this data set is augmented with full-text, excerpted, and commissioned critical material illuminating an oeuvre or era. In partnership with Merriam-Webster, Inc., LRC offers the Encyclopedia of Literature including over 10,000 entries for authors, works, literary landmarks, literary and critical terms, mythological and folkloric figures, fictional characters, literary movements, and prizes. Partnering with Macmillan Library Reference, LRC offers The Scribner Writer Series, providing more than 1500 original biocritical essays on authors of all nationalities and time periods. And The Twayne Authors Series: Twayne's US Authors, Twayne's English Authors and Twayne's World Authors,providing literary criticism, history and influence of literary movements, and the development of literary genres for approximately 200 authors.
- CU Library Catalog Overview
- The Cornell University Library Catalog includes the holdings of all of the libraries on the Ithaca campus, in addition to those of the Geneva Experiment Station. (The Medical College Library, located in New York City, has a separate catalog.) The catalog contains records for books, computer files, government documents, manuscripts and archives, maps, musical scores, periodicals, serials, sound recordings, and visual materials received and cataloged since 1973. There are also records for most pre-1973 items, and for items that are on order or in process.
- Connect to the Cornell University Library Catalog
- When the book you want was published before 1973 and it's not in the CU Library Catalog, check the card catalog located on the Lower Level of the John M. Olin Library. This card catalog contains cards for authors, subjects and titles filed in an alphabetical, word-by-word arrangement for books cataloged through December 1972. Whenever you cannot locate the material you need, ask at a reference desk for assistance.
- Dramatic index for 1909-1949.(Bound with Annual Magazine Subject Index.)
Published: Boston, Boston Book Co., 1909-1952. Olin Ref AI3 M18
Beginning with 1909, each volume is in two parts, each part having separate title page and pagination: pt. I, Annual magazine subject-index: pt. II, The Dramatic index. The Dramatic Index serves as an index to books, journal articles, illustrations, play texts and reviews. Covers general and specialized English-language periodicals. Articles are entered under subject only, with reviews of plays found under the title of the play. An important but often overlooked resource.
- ArtAbstracts. Bronx, N.Y.: H.W. Wilson Co., 1984 -. e-Reference Collection or Library Catalog
More than 250 key international, English-language arts publications. Includes periodicals, yearbooks, museum bulletins, competition and award notices, exhibition listings, interviews, film reviews, and more. Covers art, archaeology, art history, city planning, computer graphics, crafts, film, interior design, landscape architecture, photography, television, textiles and video.
- Arts & Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI) (via The web of science: citation databases. [Philadelphia, Pa.]: Institute for Scientific Information, 1975 - present. e-Reference Collection or Library Catalog
ISI citation databases are multidisciplinary databases of bibliographic information indexed to be searched by subject, author, journal, and/or author address. They can also be searched for articles that cite a known author or work. Cited reference searching allows use of a given work as if it were a subject term, to identify more recent articles on the same topic. A&HCI includes citations to performance, book, and film reviews.
- International Index to the Performing Arts: IIPA Full Text.
[Alexandria, Va.] : Chadwyck-Healey, Inc. ; [Ann Arbor, MI] : Bell and Howell Information and Learning Company, 1998 - .
IIPA Full Text covers a broad spectrum of the arts and entertainment industry--including dance, film, television, drama, theater, stagecraft, musical theater, broadcast arts, circus performance, comedy, storytelling, opera, pantomime, puppetry, magic and more. Each full text in the file contains an abstract.
- LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe. e-Reference Collection or Library Catalog
An online database created for lawyers, businesses, and broadcast and print news organizations. It contains the full text of a number of large- and medium-size newspapers; transcripts of broadcast news shows, interviews, and press conferences; local and state business publications; wire services; some popular magazines; and legal materials. Since it is updated daily, it is an excellent index to current topics and events, as well as to reviews of plays, books, and films.
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MLA International Bibliography. New York: Modern Language Association,
1963 - . e-Reference Collection or Library Catalog; pre-1963 in print at Olin Ref
An international database providing references to scholarly articles from over 4000 journals dealing with languages, literature, folklore and linguistics. It is useful for finding literary criticism of a particular author or work, as well as articles on literary theory, women's studies, popular culture, and performing arts. Both the online version of MLA and the CD-ROM version cover 1963 to present.
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Periodical Abstracts. Ann Arbor: UMI, 1986- . e-Reference Collection or Library Catalog
Indexes and abstracts over 1600 general interest magazines and scholarly journals including all the magazines in Reader's Guide and most of the scholarly journals from Social Sciences Index, Humanities Index, General Science Index. It also includes citations and abstracts to selected television and radio programs. The Library subscribes to most of the periodicals indexed. Holdings can be found easily since the titles are linked to the online catalog. The full text of some transcripts from the television and radio programs can be found by searching the Transcript Files on LEXIS/NEXIS Academic Universe.
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Periodicals Contents Index: PCI. Published: Alexandria, VA : Chadwyck-Healey, 1770-1993
e-Reference Collection or Library Catalog
Electronic index to thousands of periodicals in the humanities and social sciences, covering each periodical from its first issue. Every article is indexed. The scope is international, including journals in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and other languages. Especially useful for historical research in the humanities, 19th-20th centuries.
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Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature. New York: Wilson, 1900/04-
. Uris Ref AI 3 R28; also Olin Ref
The Readers' Guide indexes approximately 160 American popular and semi-popular periodicals. Author and subject entries are in one alphabet. Each entry gives the necessary information for finding the article: author, title, name of periodical (abbreviated), volume number, inclusive paging, and date. Maps, portraits, illustrations and bibliographies are noted. Published semi-monthly with cumulations annually. Book reviews appear at the end of each volume. Though articles from 1986 onward are well covered in Periodical Abstracts (see above), Readers' Guide.. is invaluable for locating periodical articles from the 1970s, 1960s and earlier.
- Search the Internet
- Internet Subject Guides
- Library Web Servers World-Wide
- Library Catalogs World-Wide
- Listserv and Discussion List Directories
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Futurism and Futurists Web Site - a huge Web compendium of biographies, artworks, poems, manifestos (in English translation), photographs, sound files, and timelines related to the history of Futurism.
- The Ibsen Centre - from the University of Oslo's Centre for Ibsen Studies.
- Timeline of Theatricality - from Symbolism (1885) through Absurdism (1945), provides chronologies of important events in avant-garde theatre, as well as bibliographies and links. From Salisbury University.
- Cornell University Code of Academic Integrity
- APA citation style (Gateway Help)
- Electronic Reference Formats Recommended by the American Psychological Association
- APA Publication Manual FAQ
- MLA citation style (Gateway Help)
- MLA Style (MLA's web site)
- How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography
- Library Gateway Help
- The Reference Home Page at O*K*U Libraries
- Research strategy: a tutorial
- Glossary of Library Terms
- Reference Desk Schedules in Olin and Uris
Libraries
- Olin Library Reference phone number: 255-4144
- Uris Library Reference phone number: 255-2339
- Olin Kroch Uris Reference e-mail address: okuref@cornell.edu
-
Real-Time Reference Assistance Online - "Live" Help
FINDING
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Print Reference Resources
ENCYCLOPEDIAS AND DICTIONARIES
HANDBOOKS AND GUIDES
Return to Table of Contents
CRITICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SOURCES
BIBLIOGRAPHIES
FINDING
e-REFERENCE RESOURCES
FINDING
e-REFERENCE RESOURCESThe Cornell Library Gateway provides a unified approach to finding information about the Cornell University Library and to selecting and connecting to our diverse and growing constellation of networked electronic resources and services.
e-Reference Collection contains titles, descriptive information, and links to networked periodical indexes, catalogs, dictionaries, directories and other full text reference materials. There are two main ways to search for databases in your areas of interest: searching and browsing.
Searching for Databases
Click on the top search box to select the type of resource you are interested in, such as indexes or full text, or all types, then type a keyword or keywords in the second search box. The eRererence Collection database will then generate a list of resources (databases) that match your search request.
Browsing for Databases
Below the Search boxes you will find a menu of subject categories. Click on a subject category to browse lists of resources available in that subject area. Or, you can browse the lists of New Resources, "Greatest Hits" (frequently used databases), or the Alphabetical List of titles contained in the eReference Collection.
Once you have identified the networked resource you are interested in, you can then connect to it directly to gather the information you need to perform a search on your specific topic in the file or database you have selected.
There are other networked reference resources, including online
encyclopedias and dictionaries, available in the General
Interest and Reference section of the CU Library Gateway including
the following databases:
For more information about searching for these online reference materials and other resources within the CU Library Gateway, go to the Finding Networked Resources section of this research guide.
FINDING
BOOKS
Search Commands, Subject Searching, Keyword Searching, and other functions
of the online catalog are explained on these web pages.
When to Check the Card Catalog
Understanding Library of Congress Call Numbers
Library of Congress Classification
The Cornell University Library uses Library of Congress subject headings as the standard for subject searching. Unlike searching by keyword, where any term or wording of a topic can be entered into the computer, subject searching requires you to use the exact wording of an official Library of Congress subject heading in order to retrieve search results.
Some useful Library of Congress Subject Headings for this class are:
EXPERIMENTAL THEATER
THEATER--[country name]
THEATER--PERIODICALS
THEATER--HISTORY--20TH CENTURY
NATURALISM IN LITERATURE
NATURALISM IN ART
RUSSIAN DRAMA--20TH CENTURY
GERMAN DRAMA--20TH CENTURY
FRENCH DRAMA--20TH CENTURY
SURREALISM
SURREALISM (LITERATURE)
EXPRESSIONISM
EXPRESSIONISM IN LITERATURE
FUTURISM (LITERARY MOVEMENT)
THEATERS--STAGE-SETTING AND SCENERY
FINDING
PERIODICAL ARTICLES
Periodical articles are published "periodically" or sequentially in daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual or irregular intervals. They are found in newspapers, magazines, journals, yearbooks, and other sources.
Periodical indexes and abstracts are Reference resources that identify and locate articles in periodical publications. They are often subject-oriented and list author, title, name of periodical, volume, pages and date of publication in entries called bibliographic citations.
Periodical indexes and abstracts are available in several formats: traditional bound paper volumes, stand alone CD-ROM computer workstations, and as networked resources in the CU Library Gateway.
Finding Periodicals and Periodical Articles
SELECTED PERIODICAL INDEXES AND ABSTRACTS
FINDING
INTERNET RESOURCES
Use search engines or Internet subject guides to find resources or sites on the World Wide Web on your topic. Search Engines are software that allow you to search the contents of web pages and Subject Guides are web pages that use menus and lists to sort and classify web sites.
Question and evaluate the information that you find on web pages. As you would do with books and journal articles, look to see who is responsible for producing the web page or site that you are accessing. How objective is the information? How accurate or truthful? How authoritative? Go to the Evaluating Sources section of this page for more information on how to assess the web sites you have accessed.
Selected Internet Resources
EVALUATING
SOURCES
Evaluating the sources you find is a crucial step in the process of library research. The questions you ask about books, periodical articles, or multimedia sources are similar whether you're looking at a citation to the item or have the item in hand.
How to Critically Analyze Information Sources lists some of the critical questions you should ask when you consider the appropriateness of a particular book, article, media resource, or Web site for your research.
Distinguishing Scholarly from Non-Scholarly Periodicals: A Checklist of Criteria shows how to evaluate periodicals by looking at their format, intended audience, and appearance.
Evaluating Web Resources lists ways to analyze the Web sites you find.
Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Sites offers a table of suggestions.
For additional suggestions specific to Web sites, see Evaluating
Web Sites: Criteria and Tools.
CITING
SOURCES
Online resources:
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (4th ed.)
CU Library Reference locations include Africana, ILR, Mann, Olin, and Uris Libraries at call number: BF 76.7 .A51x 1994. Also in Hotel Reference at PE 1475 .P82 1994.MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (5th ed.)
CU Library Reference locations include Olin and Uris Libraries at call number: LB 2369 .G53x 1999.
RESEARCH HELP ONLINE
REFERENCE HELP
You can ask your questions at our reference and information desks, over the phone, or by e-mail.
September 12, 2002
Fred Muratori
Instruction, Research and Information Services
Cornell University Library
URL: http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/theatre335.html
Olin and Uris Libraries, Cornell University, Ithaca
NY 14853
PSA: Public Services and Assessment
Information and reference: 607-255-4144, okuref@cornell.edu
Circulation: (Olin) 607-255-4245, (Uris) 607-255-3537, olincirc@cornell.edu