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58 P E R S P E C T I V E | M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 6 in print The theories and practices of Robert Edmond Jones have influenced succeeding generations of theatrical Set Designers and motion picture Art Directors. His book, The Dramatic Imagination, still stands as the seminal work describing the evolution of scene design in the early and mid-twentieth century; but this book is more than a commentary on the technical aesthetic of the theatre in past times. It is a guidebook to be an effective visual artist, whether as an actor, director, producer, technician or designer. Armed with the concepts he learned in Europe from Max Reinhardt, as well as the teachings of Gordon Craig that were then circulating throughout the continent, Jones sought to integrate scenic elements into the storytelling instead of having them stand separate and indifferent from the play's action, a concept then being called "The New Stagecraft." He discusses the conception and construction of the stage setting, the background, the lighting, in a way that has been described as poetical. He engages the reader to think dramatically, to think how to be true to context, and enhance the beauty of scenes or moments in life that we typically take for granted. Mr. Jones attempts to define a philosophical approach to stage design, to describe the "why" that underscores the "how" of scenery, lighting, sound, costuming. It does not discuss or describe practical applications; rather it explores the purpose and meaning of design in elegantly worded phrases and vocabulary, revealing and elevating the art of design for the performing arts. Various readers have commented on this book and its value to designers: "Simply put, a must have for the library of anyone interested in theatrical design." "Robert Edmond Jones was the father of the New American Stagecraft and has, as such, influenced all scenic and lighting designers who followed, even if they are not aware of it." "As someone now entering his twentieth year as a college professor, and around his thirtieth as a professional designer, I am constantly reinvigorated and enthused by the words of Jones. He reminds us of the importance of the arts in our society and why we do what we do." "A rough paraphrase from the book: Do we carry visions of poetry with us as we shout directions to electricians on ladders? Yes." The Dramatic Imagination is considered the definitive work on modern stage design in the first half of the twentieth century. THE DRAMATIC IMAGINATION: Reflections and Speculations on the Art of Theatre by Robert Edmond Jones Routledge, 2004. $25pb THE DRAMATIC IMAGINATION is available through Amazon.com from several retailers, at Samuel French Bookshops in Hollywood and London, and at Larry Edmunds Bookshop in Hollywood. It is also available digitally for the Kindle and other readers. See Reshoots on page 64.