George Pierce Baker
Full Name and Common Aliases
George Pierce Baker
Birth and Death Dates
April 1856 - August 1930
Nationality and Profession(s)
American Playwright, Educator, and Author
Early Life and Background
George Pierce Baker was born in 1856 in Boston, Massachusetts. His family had a strong educational background, with his father serving as the principal of the Boston Latin School. This exposure to education from an early age likely influenced George's future career choices.
Baker graduated from Harvard University in 1878 and later taught at several schools before becoming the head of the English Department at Yale University in 1895. He held this position for over three decades, shaping the curriculum and fostering a love of literature among his students.
Major Accomplishments
George Pierce Baker was a pioneer in American drama education. At Yale, he established the first playwriting course in the United States and developed the "The Harvard Forty" program, which aimed to produce successful playwrights by emphasizing original work over translation or adaptation. This innovative approach revolutionized the way students were taught about theater.
Baker also encouraged his students to experiment with new forms of drama, leading to the creation of many notable plays. He believed in the importance of student-led productions and helped establish Yale's own theater company.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Baker's most significant contributions include:
"The New England Playhouse," a groundbreaking playwriting course that drew students from across the country.
"The Harvard Forty" program, which fostered a generation of talented playwrights.
* Influence on American drama education, paving the way for future innovations in theater pedagogy.
Impact and Legacy
George Pierce Baker's influence extends far beyond his academic accomplishments. He played a pivotal role in shaping the American theater scene, helping to establish it as a vital part of the country's cultural landscape.
Baker's emphasis on original work and experimentation with new forms of drama inspired a generation of playwrights. His approach to teaching not only influenced the curriculum at Yale but also had a broader impact on education nationwide.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
George Pierce Baker is remembered for his innovative approach to playwriting, which helped establish American drama as a major force in world theater. He is widely quoted and admired for his commitment to original work and his ability to inspire students to push the boundaries of what was possible.
Baker's legacy continues to be felt today, with many institutions and organizations citing him as an inspiration for their own programs and initiatives. His emphasis on student-led productions, experimentation with new forms, and dedication to fostering a love of literature have made him one of the most influential figures in American drama education.
This biography aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of George Pierce Baker's life, accomplishments, and lasting impact on American theater.
Quotes by George Pierce Baker
In the best farce today we start with some absurd premise as to character or situation, but if the premises be once granted we move logically enough to the ending.
No drama, however great, is entirely independent of the stage on which it is given.
In reading plays, however, it should always be remembered that any play, however great, loses much when not seen in action.
Drama read to oneself is never drama at its best, and is not even drama as it should be.
The instinct to impersonate produces the actor; the desire to provide pleasure by impersonations produces the playwright; the desire to provide this pleasure with adequate characterization and dialogue memorable in itself produces dramatic literature.
We do not kill the drama, we do not really limit its appeal by failing to encourage the best in it; but we do thereby foster the weakest and poorest elements.
Back through the ages of barbarism and civilization, in all tongues, we find this instinctive pleasure in the imitative action that is the very essence of all drama.
Acted drama requires surrender of one's self, sympathetic absorption in the play as it develops.
But what is drama? Broadly speaking, it is whatever by imitative action rouses interest or gives pleasure.