Three Uses of the Knife

Three Uses of the Knife
Author David Mamet
Country United States
Series The Columbia Lectures on American Culture
Subject Drama
Publisher Columbia University Press
Publication date
February 1998
Pages 96 (first edition, clothbound)
ISBN 0-231-11088-X
OCLC 37115843
808.2 21
LC Class PN1631 .M26 1998

Three Uses of the Knife: On the Nature and Purpose of Drama is a book by David Mamet that discusses playwriting. In it, Mamet discusses the conscious and unconscious processes that go on in developing a work of art.

The essay, dedicated to Michael Feingold (a critic of The Village Voice), is divided in three chapters: "The Wind-Chill Factor", "Second Act Problems", and "Three Uses of the Knife".

The book's title stems from a quote from musician Lead Belly, appearing on page 66:

Another more significant quote from the book: "The subject of drama is The Lie. At the end of the drama THE TRUTH -- which has been overlooked, disregarded, scorned, and denied -- prevails. And that is how we know the Drama is done."


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