Theatre Design & Technology - Oct 1974 - 33

BOOK REVIEWS

TO_NY_C_OUR_TA_DE

PERFORMING ARTS MANAGEMENT AND
LAW
Joseph Taubman
New York, Law-Arts Publishers, Inc., 1972-73
4 Vols. xlviii + 708 + xxviii pp.; 709-1417 pp.,
11 appendices, 251 item biblio., table of cases,
index to Copyright Act., general subject index;
xxxiv + 668 pp. (Motion Picture Forms);
xiii + 669-1166 pp. (TV and Radio Forms),
index to forms.
$125.00 hardcover. $90.00 Form Books I and II
separately in looseleaf binders.
Professionals involved in the various aspects of the arts
have been eagerly awaiting the publication of this
magnum opus by the editor of "Performing Arts Review."
And clearly it has been worth each day of the wait!
Massive, comprehensive, scholarly, articulate, one wonders
how we ever managed without it. Nothing like it has ever
been available, and it is both a standard reference and a
classic to be digested and utilized for years to come. It
would be presumptuous of me to even pretend that in a
few short paragraphs an adequate summation or analysis
of Dr. Taubman's outstanding contribution were possible.
Its sheer volume and scope preclude all but the most
general statements verifying its obvious values. Performing

Management and law in the performing arts have an
obligation, not only to proffer modern copyright
legislation, but to show the way perceptually by every
educational means at their command, to the performing
artists and creators, as well as to society as a whole, because
of the crucial position of management and law as the ball
bearings of the performing arts.

The author is obviously an involved, concerned activist
who believes that his profession can and should make a
meaningful,
on-going,
positive
and
constructive
contribution to the arts in America.
In a sense, this treatise is dedicated to the search for
meaning in the arts, in the relationship of law to market
mechanisms, and of both to the artist and creator ....The
starting point has been, throughout several decades of
participation in this area, a feeling of healthy respect and
appreciation for the artist and creator as such and as
members of and pacesetters for humanity as a whole....
Management and law have much of a positive nature with
which to repay our artists and creators - past, present and
future, for the many satisfactions of a priceless nature
which artistry and creation have afforded us.

Arts Management and Law is without question de rigueur
for any and all persons involved in any kind of administration in the arts. You will not become a self-taught lawyer
overnight, but your awareness and articulation of the legal
ramifications of your decisions will be immeasurably
enhanced.

And one can only say, "Hear, Hear!" And strongly
recommend that you or your nearest library (not to
mention your lawyer) order a copy for immediate and

To avoid the distressing problem of writing a treatise in
wh ich copyright is a key component" at a time when major
revisions are under consideration, Dr. Taubman considers
both the existing Copyright Act and proposed copyright
revision. This allows a conceptual discussion of future
provisions through a reflection of current law. "I nasmuch
as this treatise is intended to be updated periodically,
then, in due course, the writer will be able to conform the
technical changes accordingly by references therein to
bills to be submitted hereafter." Thus we have a 'living'
work which will be up-dated in light of future practice
and evolving legal guidelines. "When, oh when, will
Congress finally give us a modern copyright statute in
place of the present law with all its archaisms!"

BAROQUE AND ROCOCO PICTORIAL
IMAGERY

The text has been divided into three parts: Part I, Scope;
Part II, Arts Market Place, Copyright and Contract
(comprising together Volume I of the text), and Part III,
Torts and Crimes, together with appendices, bibliography,
table of cases and subject index (comprising Volume 2 of
the text), Additional parts will be added in the future as the
preparation of further textual material progresses.

Until problems arise both the professionals and the
public they claim to serve are often unaware of the role of

management and law in the performing arts. And I think
this simple fact provided both the rationale and the
impetus for the author's long months of work. Having
spent years as a practitioner, writer and editor in the law
and management as both related to the arts, Dr. Taubman
felt he was in a unique position to extend a helping hand
in the other direction.

THEATRE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

continual reference.
Marc Sundelof

by Cesare Ripa, Edward A. Maser, ed. and trans.
Dover PUblications, Inc., New York, 1971
The 1758 - 60 Hertel Edition of Ripa's 'Iconologia'
with 200 Engraved Illustrations
ISBN 0-486-22748-0, LCC# 78-100544
$6.00
In his Iconologia (1593) Cesare Ripa presented to the
Baroque and Rococo world a codification of symbolic
attributes associated with various ideas and phenomena.
He brought together a wealth of allusions from classical
literature, both directly and through various Renaissance
interpretations, the Christian heritage, the influences of
newly discovered Egyptian elements, and other varied
materia I from
medieval herbals, bestiaries, and
encyclopedias. On the basis of these sources R ipa made up
verbal representations of the virtues, vices, passions, and
temprements which make up his Iconologia; all sorts of
recondite meanings have been assigned to human

OCTOBER. 1974

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Oct 1974