SOCIAL-STRUCTURE AND GENERATIONS IN ART - A CASE-STUDY OF THE HEBREW THEATER

This study examines artistic innovations from the point of view of age structure and age stratification. Drawing on Mannheim's theory of generations, it describes and analyzes the history of the Hebrew theater, from its beginnings in 1917 to 1977, in terms of four theaters that were expressions of generation units. The study suggests that the crucial variable in explaining changes in artistic ideologies, contents, and styles of the Hebrew theater is Mannheim's concept of generation unit. The emergence and evolution of these generational theaters are explained in relation to changes in the demographic, political, and social structures of Israeli society during the historical era under consideration. Special emphasis is placed on the role of youth in originating artistic innovations and on the problems of maintaining and institutionalizing innovations. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved