Jean Cocteau

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Jean Cocteau Criticism

Jean Cocteau (1889–1963) was a prolific French artist whose work spanned several media, including poetry, novels, plays, essays, and films. Known for his engagement with mythological themes, Cocteau's oeuvre frequently explores the intersections between reality and fantasy. His approach is reflective of the escapist tendencies of the Jazz Age, a concept discussed by Paul West. Cocteau's notable contributions to literature, such as Les Enfants terribles, delve into the tragic aspects of childhood, death, and myth, capturing the tension between an idealized past and a harsh present reality, as examined by Leon S. Roudiez. His stylistic innovations are not confined to literature but extend into film, where avant-garde techniques and enigmatic prose have left a lasting mark on French culture, a point highlighted by Wallace Fowlie. Furthermore, his ballet Le Train Bleu exemplifies his ability to elevate the everyday into art, a contribution to modern dance that Frank W. D. Ries suggests deserves greater recognition.

Contents

  • Principal Works
  • Cocteau, Jean (Vol. 1)
  • Cocteau, Jean (Vol. 8)
  • Cocteau, Jean (Vol. 16)
    • 'The Blood of a Poet'
    • 'Beauty and the Beast'
    • 'Eagle with Two Heads'
    • 'The Storm Within'
    • 'Orpheus'
    • Cocteau's 'Orpheus' Analyzed: Its Chief Virtue Is What It Tried to Do
    • Orphée
    • Poetry in Three Films of Jean Cocteau
    • Aftermaths
    • Film Reviews: 'Le Testament d'Orphée'
    • New Films: 'Le Testament d'Orphee'
    • 'Testament of Orpheus'
    • Jean Cocteau
    • The Testament of Jean Cocteau
  • Cocteau, Jean (Vol. 15)
    • Paul West
    • Cocteau's 'Les Enfants terribles' as a Blind Text
    • Jean Cocteau 1889–1963
    • Acrobats, Burlesque and Cocteau: The Creation of 'Le Train Bleu'
  • Cocteau, Jean (Drama Criticism)
  • Cocteau, Jean (Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism)
  • Further Reading