From Über-marionettes to Muppets. Finding ancient joy in the modern-day world.

Abstract

In the spring of 1907, writer and director, Edward Gordon Craig first exclaimed that the actor must exit the stage, and, in its place, we would welcome the über-marionette. The mystery behind Craig’s “puppet” creation is left unsolved to this day. What is an über- marionette? Is it a metaphor for the perfect performer? An oversized puppet? A performer inside a puppet? Multiple scholars have tried to sort through Craig’s metaphorical writings in order to figure out the construction of the über-marionette. But, perhaps instead of looking for information about its’ appearance, we should be looking for what the über-marionette would bring. Using the works of Jim Henson and the styles of puppetry used in his feature film, The Dark Crystal, this thesis is a comparative analysis and thorough exploration of the works of Edward Gordon Craig’s philosophies and Jim Henson’s practices.