Professor David Peimer
The Theater of Sam Shepard and the American Dream
Summary
An exploration of myth and reality in American culture through the plays of award-winning American playwright Sam Shepard, specifically True West (1980) and Buried Child (1978) and the complex relationships between characters and the allure of the cowboy myth.
Professor David Peimer
David Peimer is a Professor of Literature, Film and Theatre in the UK. He has worked for the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, New York University (Global Division) and was a Fulbright Scholar at Columbia University. Born in South Africa, David has won numerous awards for playwriting and directing in New York, UK, Berlin, EU Parliament (Brussels), Athens, Budapest, Zululand and more. He has most recently directed Dame Janet Suzman in his own play, Joanna’s Story, at London Jewish Book Week. He has published widely with books including: Armed Response: Plays from South Africa, the digital book, Theatre in the Camps. He is on the board of the Pinter Centre (London), and has been involved with the Mandela Foundation, Vaclav Havel Foundation and directed a range of plays at Mr Havel’s Prague theatre.
Great question, it can absolutely be imagined, I think that many of the great writers use their imagination. But they are also in touch with ideals, values, dreams, what people believe in and in what they don’t.