Philip Lawton

The King and the Poor Wretch Philip Lawton

Written for drama teachers and serious actors, this 75-page booklet contains Philip Lawton's introductory essay, "The King and the Poor Wretch: Simmel's Philosophy of the Actor," and his translation of two key articles by Georg Simmel: "Toward the Philosophy of the Actor" and "The Actor and Reality." Lawton's paper succinctly presents Simmel's thoughtful exploration of the actor's unique art in the context of major themes in his sociological studies of modern urban life and the money economy. Given that the play is already a work of art, Simmel's penetrating articles examine the relationship between actors as real people and the roles they play onstage. Artistic creativity in general is rooted in a metaphysical depth of being, and acting, Simmel argues, is the most radical of the arts.