Puppetry - A World History Description:

Puppetry : A World History review:
5 stars (Amazing Collection of Photographs) - Ms. Blumenthal says she has done a world history, and a story beginning 30,000 (or so) years ago and going through 2007's best musical on Broadway, 'Avenue Q.' She covers virtually every culture in almost every time with an amazing selection of photographs. She combines this with interviews, stories and descriptions of puppeteers. She describes all of the wide variety of puppet shows brought about by the advent of television, some of which are still on the air.



Part of her discussion is on the way that puppets can be used to show/discuss things that wouldn't be allowed in other ways. Politics, for instance is different when a puppet is making the remarks about your leader. And of course sex has long been a staple of puppet shows. She has a picture of the romantically challenged Miss Piggy delivering an illustrated lecture on ideal frog physique.



If puppets are your thing, you'll find nothing better than this book.
5 stars (Excellent book on the history of puppets!) - This is one of those luscious, lavishly illustrated coffee-table books that doll and puppet aficionados will drool over before shelling out $65 to obtain a coveted copy. Within the 272 pages, artistic as well as historic photography of puppets dating from antiquity to modern times chronicle the history of this captivating art form. The accompanying text is scholarly, but approachable and easy to read. The history of this art form is fascinating, really.

The author structures her massive effort into chapters detailing the history of puppets, types of puppets, and uses for puppets, including sex acts, illustrations for violent stories, and political commentary, as well as public service (Sesame Street), and ventures into the spirit world.

I love her opening statement: "They can be gods, idiots, or worms. They are able to nurture children or terrify adults. They survive indefinitely without normal biological aging but also can die and come back to life again and again."

Recommended reading for anyone interested in puppets, their history and uses in popular culture.