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Writer's pictureanushka nair

PERFORMANCE STUDIES-INTRODUCTION

Updated: Sep 1, 2019

A summary of the Introduction to Richard Schechner's book that sheds light on the definitions and functions of performance.







WHAT IS TO PERFORM?


  • Being

  • doing

  • showing doing

  • explaining "showing doing"



PERFORMANCE IN ART


- Performance is restored behaviour /twice behaved behaviour : it comprises of elements and parts from ordinary life in various different combinations. Feeding off of from the collective performance: etiquettes, social behaviour, norms etc.


-Restored behaviour as symbolic and reflexive


-Paradox: restored behaviour as well as one-time event. The "onceness" of it is defined by the constand flux of context, interaction, display etc


-Performance takes place as action ,interaction and relation. It doesn't exist "in" something but rather "between": bringing to importance the need of spectator.


- Performance underlines, highlights and makes aware through aesthetic tactics (eg slowing down) the ordinary behaviours. Honouring the daily life and bringing to light how ritual- like and repetitive it is.


-The constantly changing nature of life creates the flux in interactivity too.







FUNCTIONS


  • to entertain

  • to create beauty

  • to mark/change identity

  • to make/foster community

  • to heal

  • to teach/persuade

  • to deal with sacred and the demonic


Theatre of the oppressed(Augusto boal) , theatre for development, "model operas" (Jiang Qing)



PERFORMANCE "AS" AND "IS"


As: caters to the viewpoint of studying a subject through the lens of performance

in: caters to definite event marked b context, convention, usage and tradition.







  • Maps "as" performance: projection of power or boundaries and ideas of nations and countries.


MAKE BELIEVE AND MAKE BELIEF


Performance by public figures (make belief: blurring boundaries intentionally between real and fake vs artists (make believe-maintains a clearly boundary between the two).





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