“Stella Medvedeva's well-researched, lucid, erudite, and insightful book situates Vygotsky's ideas on art and emotion firstly within his broader effort to articulate a comprehensive developmental psychology of socially, culturally, and historically grounded individuals and social groups, and then within the scholarship that extended his work beyond Vygotskian studies in Russia. The book admirably scrutinizes Vygotsky's views on theater and performance while paying special attention to Vygotsky's profound interest in Shakespeare's Hamlet, often staged in the 1910s-20s. Medvedeva also brings Vygotsky's aesthetic thought into dialogue with various contemporary trends such as educational theater, cognitive theater studies, and Rancière's philosophical approaches to art. Her book makes a unique contribution to the existing literature by promoting Vygotsky as an important theater critic and theoretician whose theatrical experiences shaped his conceptualizing of the human subject and agency.”

Alexandra Smith, Reader in Russian Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK

“A groundbreaking exploration of theories of aesthetics and psychology, Medvedeva's insightful analysis brings new attention to Vygotsky's contributions to literature and theater criticism. This book is an essential read for scholars and practitioners keen to explore the dynamic relationship between art and emotion. By introducing Vygotsky in a new light to a contemporary readership, Medvedeva makes a compelling case for the role of aesthetics in social and psychological transformation.”

David Overend, Lecturer in Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK