Date of Award

5-2024

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)

School

Music

Committee Chair

Elizabeth Moak

Committee Chair School

Music

Committee Member 2

Joseph Brumbeloe

Committee Member 2 School

Music

Committee Member 3

Michael Bunchman

Committee Member 3 School

Music

Committee Member 4

Barbara Dietlinger

Committee Member 4 School

Music

Committee Member 5

Ellen Price Elder

Committee Member 5 School

Music

Abstract

Francis Poulenc’s ballet Les Animaux modèles [The model animals] premiered in 1942 at the Paris Opéra during the German occupation of Paris to favorable reviews from prominent voices in the Parisian musical scene. Set in the French countryside (la campagne) in the seventeenth century, the ballet is a seemingly honest depiction of quaint rural life. To create the short vignettes that comprise the work, Poulenc (1899–1963) adapted well-known fables of the poet Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95). Existing discussions of Les Animaux modèles primarily focus on the ballet’s conception during World War II and the political implications of Poulenc’s compositional choices. The ballet also includes extremely contrasting episodes of seriousness and humor that have parallels with the queer-associated concept of camp. This paper discusses the historical development of camp criticism while noting associations between camp and French culture. Poulenc’s stylistic decisions in Les Animaux modèles are compared to camp in terms of narrative, quotation, mood, and depictions of gender. The ballet’s argument and costume images from the original production are included in appendices.

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