1.1 Origins and development of performance studies
9 min read•august 21, 2024
studies emerged as an interdisciplinary field combining insights from various disciplines to analyze human behavior and cultural practices. It draws on methodologies and theories from anthropology, sociology, theater, linguistics, and other areas to examine performance in everyday life, rituals, and artistic expressions.
The field developed through contributions of scholars like , , and . Their work established foundational theories emphasizing the interconnectedness of performance with social, cultural, and political contexts, shaping how we analyze performance today.
Interdisciplinary roots
- Performance studies emerged as a field combining insights from various disciplines to analyze human behavior and cultural practices
- This interdisciplinary approach allows for a comprehensive examination of performance in everyday life, rituals, and artistic expressions
- The field draws on methodologies and theories from anthropology, sociology, theater, linguistics, and other related areas
Anthropology and sociology
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- Anthropological fieldwork techniques inform performance studies' ethnographic approaches
- Sociological concepts of social interaction and role-playing contribute to understanding aspects of daily life
- Cultural relativism from anthropology influences the analysis of diverse performance practices across cultures
- Ethnomethodology, developed by sociologist Harold Garfinkel, provides insights into the performative nature of social order
Theater and performance art
- Theatrical concepts of staging, rehearsal, and audience engagement shape performance studies' analytical framework
- movements expand the definition of what constitutes a performance
- of alienation effect influence critical approaches to analyzing performances
- The notion of "" from theater studies becomes central to understanding performance as a repeatable act
Linguistics and communication
- , developed by J.L. Austin, informs the analysis of performative utterances
- contributes to understanding how language use varies in different performance contexts
- studies provide insights into bodily aspects of performance
- techniques are applied to examine the structure and meaning of performative texts
Key figures and theories
- Performance studies developed through the contributions of scholars from diverse backgrounds
- These key figures established foundational theories that continue to shape the field's approach to analyzing performance
- Their work emphasizes the interconnectedness of performance with social, cultural, and political contexts
Richard Schechner's contributions
- Introduced the concept of "restored behavior" as a fundamental aspect of performance
- Developed the "broad spectrum approach" to analyze various forms of performance beyond traditional theater
- Established the Performance Studies department at New York University in 1980
- Coined the term "" to describe the shift towards performance-based analysis in various disciplines
- Edited , a influential journal in the field of performance studies
Victor Turner's ritual theory
- Developed the concept of "" to analyze conflict and resolution in society
- Introduced the notion of "" to describe transitional states in rituals and performances
- Explored the relationship between ritual and theater in his work on "communitas"
- Collaborated with Richard Schechner to bridge anthropology and theater studies
- Emphasized the transformative power of rituals and performances in social processes
Erving Goffman's dramaturgical approach
- Proposed the idea of "" as a performative act in everyday life
- Introduced concepts like "" and "" to analyze social interactions
- Developed the notion of "" to understand how people interpret social situations
- Explored the performative aspects of institutional life (asylums, prisons)
- Influenced the study of micro-interactions and their broader social implications
Emergence as academic discipline
- Performance studies gained recognition as a distinct academic field in the late 20th century
- The establishment of dedicated programs and departments legitimized the discipline within academia
- This emergence challenged traditional boundaries between arts, humanities, and social sciences
New York University's program
- Founded by Richard Schechner in 1980 as the first Performance Studies department
- Developed an interdisciplinary curriculum combining theater, anthropology, and cultural studies
- Attracted scholars from diverse backgrounds, fostering a rich intellectual environment
- Established the Performance Studies International (PSi) conference series
- Produced influential publications, including the
Northwestern University's influence
- Dwight Conquergood established the Performance Studies division within the Department of Communication Studies
- Emphasized the integration of theory and practice in performance research
- Developed approaches to and
- Contributed to the study of subaltern performances and cultural resistance
- Influenced the development of performance-based research methods
Global expansion of field
- Performance studies programs and research centers established in universities worldwide
- International conferences and publications fostered global dialogue and collaboration
- Incorporation of non-Western performance traditions and theories into the field
- Development of regional variations in performance studies approaches (Latin American, Asian)
- Increased focus on transnational and diasporic performance practices
Performance as research method
- Performance studies pioneered innovative research methodologies that integrate theory and practice
- These approaches challenge traditional academic distinctions between researcher and subject
- Performance-based research methods offer new ways to generate and disseminate knowledge
Ethnographic approaches
- Participant observation techniques adapted to study performance in cultural contexts
- Development of "performance ethnography" as a method of representing fieldwork findings
- Use of embodied knowledge and experience in ethnographic analysis
- Critical reflection on the researcher's role and impact in the field
- Integration of visual and audio documentation in ethnographic research
Practice-based research
- Artistic creation and performance used as a mode of inquiry and knowledge production
- Development of "practice as research" (PaR) methodologies in performance studies
- Emphasis on tacit knowledge and embodied understanding in research processes
- Creation of performance works as a form of thesis or dissertation
- Integration of reflective writing and documentation with artistic practice
Performance ethnography
- Adaptation of ethnographic findings into performative presentations
- Use of performance to communicate research findings to diverse audiences
- Exploration of ethical issues in representing others through performance
- Development of collaborative approaches to creating ethnographic performances
- Critical examination of the politics of representation in performance ethnography
Cultural performance analysis
- Performance studies examines various forms of cultural expression as performances
- This approach reveals how performances shape and reflect social norms, values, and power structures
- Analysis of cultural performances provides insights into collective identities and social change
Rituals and ceremonies
- Study of religious and secular rituals as performative acts
- Analysis of the structure and symbolism in ceremonial performances
- Examination of how rituals create and maintain social bonds
- Investigation of the role of rituals in marking life transitions (weddings, funerals)
- Exploration of the relationship between ritual performances and cultural identity
Social dramas
- Application of Victor Turner's concept to analyze conflicts and crises in society
- Examination of how social dramas unfold through stages (breach, crisis, redress, reintegration)
- Analysis of political protests and social movements as performative events
- Study of media representations of social conflicts as dramatized narratives
- Investigation of how social dramas contribute to cultural change and transformation
Everyday life performances
- Examination of mundane activities as performances (greetings, dining etiquette)
- Analysis of self-presentation and identity performance in daily interactions
- Study of workplace performances and professional identities
- Investigation of online performances and digital self-representation
- Exploration of the performative aspects of consumer behavior and lifestyle choices
Performance studies vs theater studies
- Performance studies emerged as a distinct field, expanding beyond traditional theater studies
- This shift broadened the scope of what constitutes performance and how it is analyzed
- The relationship between performance studies and theater studies remains complex and sometimes contentious
Broadened scope of performance
- Inclusion of non-theatrical forms of performance (rituals, sports, political events)
- Analysis of everyday life as performance, beyond staged productions
- Examination of performative aspects of identity and social roles
- Study of animal behaviors and non-human performances
- Investigation of virtual and digital performances in online environments
Interdisciplinary methodologies
- Integration of anthropological, sociological, and linguistic approaches
- Incorporation of critical theory and cultural studies perspectives
- Development of practice-based research methods
- Use of quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques
- Application of digital humanities tools and methodologies
Focus on process over product
- Emphasis on the rehearsal and preparation stages of performance
- Analysis of the social and cultural contexts that shape performances
- Examination of audience reception and participation in performance events
- Study of the afterlife and documentation of performances
- Investigation of the transformative potential of performance processes
Critical perspectives
- Performance studies incorporates various critical theories to analyze power dynamics in performance
- These perspectives challenge dominant narratives and reveal marginalized voices in performance practices
- Critical approaches in performance studies often intersect with broader social and political movements
Postcolonial critiques
- Examination of how colonial legacies shape performance practices
- Analysis of cultural appropriation and exoticization in performance
- Study of indigenous performance traditions and their resistance to colonialism
- Investigation of diasporic performances and hybrid cultural identities
- Critique of Western-centric perspectives in performance theory and practice
Feminist approaches
- Analysis of gender representation and performativity in various contexts
- Examination of women's roles in traditional and contemporary performance forms
- Study of feminist performance art and activism
- Investigation of the intersections of gender, race, and class in performance
- Critique of patriarchal structures in performance institutions and practices
Queer theory in performance studies
- Examination of LGBTQ+ representations and identities in performance
- Analysis of drag and gender-bending performances
- Study of queer temporalities and spatialities in performance
- Investigation of the performative aspects of coming out and queer visibility
- Critique of heteronormative assumptions in performance analysis and practice
Contemporary developments
- Performance studies continues to evolve, addressing new forms of performance and emerging social issues
- These developments reflect broader technological, environmental, and global changes
- Contemporary performance studies often engages with urgent social and political concerns
Digital performance studies
- Analysis of online performances and virtual identities
- Study of social media as a platform for performative self-presentation
- Examination of digital art and net-based performance practices
- Investigation of the impact of technology on live performance experiences
- Development of digital tools for performance analysis and documentation
Eco-performance studies
- Examination of performances addressing environmental issues
- Analysis of the ecological impact of performance practices
- Study of site-specific performances in natural environments
- Investigation of non-human and posthuman performances
- Development of sustainable approaches to performance production and research
Globalization and performance
- Analysis of and cultural flows
- Study of global performance festivals and international collaborations
- Examination of the impact of tourism on local performance traditions
- Investigation of performances addressing global issues (migration, climate change)
- Critique of cultural homogenization and the commodification of performance
Challenges and future directions
- Performance studies faces ongoing challenges as it continues to develop as a field
- These challenges present opportunities for innovation and growth within the discipline
- The future of performance studies is shaped by emerging technologies, social movements, and global issues
Methodological debates
- Ongoing discussions about the balance between theory and practice in research
- Challenges in developing rigorous standards for practice-based research
- Debates over the role of quantitative methods in performance analysis
- Exploration of new technologies for performance documentation and analysis
- Ethical considerations in performance-based research and representation
Institutional recognition
- Continued efforts to establish performance studies programs in universities worldwide
- Challenges in defining the boundaries and core curriculum of the field
- Debates over the relationship between performance studies and traditional disciplines
- Development of performance studies-specific academic journals and publication venues
- Advocacy for the recognition of performance-based research in academic evaluations
Emerging subfields and applications
- Integration of performance studies approaches in fields like medicine and law
- Development of applied performance studies in conflict resolution and social work
- Exploration of performance in relation to artificial intelligence and robotics
- Application of performance theory to organizational studies and management
- Emergence of new areas like disability performance studies and fat studies in performance
Key Terms to Review (34)
Audience Participation: Audience participation refers to the active involvement of spectators in a performance, transforming them from passive observers into engaged participants. This concept plays a crucial role in shaping the experience of a performance, as it can create a sense of community, enhance emotional connections, and blur the boundaries between performers and viewers. The nature and extent of audience participation can vary widely across different forms of performance, impacting how narratives are constructed and experienced.
Avant-garde performance art: Avant-garde performance art is a radical and innovative approach to artistic expression that challenges conventional norms and seeks to explore new forms and ideas. It often emphasizes the experimental and the unexpected, pushing the boundaries of what is considered art, and engaging with social, political, and cultural issues. This form of performance is key to understanding the evolution of performance studies as it reflects a break from traditional theatrical practices and promotes a more interactive relationship between artist and audience.
Back Stage: Back stage refers to the private spaces in performance contexts where individuals can prepare, rehearse, and transition before presenting themselves to an audience. This concept extends beyond theater to encompass various social settings where people manage their identities away from the public eye, allowing for authentic interactions and self-reflection.
Brechtian techniques: Brechtian techniques refer to a set of innovative theatrical methods developed by German playwright Bertolt Brecht that aim to provoke critical thought and social change through performance. These techniques encourage the audience to engage with the action on stage intellectually rather than emotionally, promoting an awareness of the social and political issues being portrayed. By breaking the 'fourth wall' and utilizing devices like alienation effects, Brecht sought to challenge traditional narrative forms and inspire audiences to reflect on their own realities.
Critical Performance Pedagogy: Critical performance pedagogy is an educational approach that combines the principles of critical theory with performance studies to create a transformative learning environment. It emphasizes the importance of understanding power dynamics, social justice, and the role of the body in learning, encouraging students to engage in critical reflection and performative practices that challenge societal norms. This pedagogy aims to empower individuals by fostering their ability to critique and reshape their experiences through performance.
Cultural Rituals: Cultural rituals are established, repetitive actions that hold significant meaning within a specific community or society, often performed during key life events or cultural celebrations. These rituals serve to reinforce social norms, values, and collective identity, while also providing a sense of continuity and connection among participants. They can vary widely in form and function, encompassing everything from religious ceremonies to communal celebrations and rites of passage.
Decolonization of Performance Studies: Decolonization of performance studies refers to the process of critically examining and transforming the field to address and dismantle colonial legacies, biases, and structures that have historically marginalized non-Western perspectives. This involves embracing diverse cultural practices, rethinking traditional methodologies, and advocating for the inclusion of indigenous and underrepresented voices in performance scholarship.
Digital performance studies: Digital performance studies is an interdisciplinary field that examines how performance is transformed and expressed through digital technologies. This area of study explores the interactions between traditional performance forms and new media, considering how the digital landscape affects the creation, presentation, and reception of performances in various contexts.
Discourse Analysis: Discourse analysis is a research method used to study written, spoken, or visual communication and understand how language shapes our perceptions of reality. It focuses on the relationship between language, social context, and power dynamics, revealing how meaning is constructed and conveyed through different forms of communication. This method is crucial for understanding how performance can influence and be influenced by societal structures, particularly in the realms of historical performance studies and contemporary social media interactions.
Eco-performance studies: Eco-performance studies is an interdisciplinary field that examines the relationship between performance and environmental issues, focusing on how artistic expressions can address ecological concerns. It seeks to explore the ways in which performance can raise awareness about environmental challenges, promote sustainability, and inspire action towards a healthier planet. This field draws from various disciplines, including ecology, performance studies, and social activism, emphasizing the importance of performance as a tool for environmental advocacy and education.
Embodiment: Embodiment refers to the physical manifestation of identity, experience, and cultural practices through the body. It connects the mind and body, illustrating how our physical presence influences and shapes our interactions, performances, and understandings of culture and society.
Erving Goffman: Erving Goffman was a Canadian sociologist known for his work on social interaction, particularly through the lens of performance. He introduced the idea that everyday life is akin to a theatrical performance where individuals manage impressions to navigate social situations, making his theories foundational in understanding the performative nature of human behavior.
Ethnography of Performance: The ethnography of performance is a qualitative research method that focuses on observing and documenting live performances within their cultural contexts. This approach seeks to understand how performances shape, reflect, and influence the identities and practices of communities, often emphasizing the relationship between performers and audiences. By using participant observation and interviews, researchers gather insights into the social meanings and cultural significance of various performance forms, which connects deeply with historical contexts and cultural reenactments.
Folk performances: Folk performances are traditional expressions of culture that are typically passed down through generations within specific communities. These performances often include music, dance, storytelling, and rituals that reflect the history, values, and beliefs of a particular group. They serve as a means of cultural preservation and community identity, while also adapting over time to incorporate contemporary elements.
Frame Analysis: Frame analysis is a method of understanding how individuals and groups interpret social phenomena by organizing experiences and expectations within specific contexts. This approach emphasizes how different 'frames' or perspectives influence perception, meaning, and interaction in various performance settings. It helps unpack the social constructs that shape our understanding of events, roles, and relationships.
Front stage: Front stage refers to the public persona or behavior individuals present in social interactions, where they consciously manage their impression on others. This concept highlights how people perform roles and engage in performances that align with societal expectations, influencing the dynamics of identity, interaction, and perception.
Intermediality: Intermediality refers to the interaction and blending of different media forms in performance, creating new meanings and experiences. It involves the use of various media—like video, sound, text, and live action—in a single performance piece, allowing for innovative storytelling and audience engagement. This concept challenges traditional boundaries between art forms, fostering a space where performance can incorporate and reflect contemporary culture's complexity.
Liminality: Liminality refers to the transitional phase in rituals or social processes where participants find themselves in a state of ambiguity and disorientation, existing between two defined states or identities. This concept is pivotal in understanding how individuals or groups navigate changes, often leading to new roles, relationships, or community dynamics during this transformative phase.
Nonverbal Communication: Nonverbal communication refers to the transmission of messages or signals through means other than words, including body language, facial expressions, gestures, posture, and tone of voice. It plays a crucial role in performance studies, as it encompasses the various ways individuals express emotions, intentions, and social dynamics without relying solely on verbal language.
Performance: Performance refers to the act of presenting a play, dance, music, or any other form of artistic expression to an audience. This concept is crucial in understanding how individuals and groups communicate meaning through embodied actions, rituals, and social interactions. It encompasses not only theatrical performances but also everyday life situations where people enact roles, thus highlighting the relationship between the performer, the audience, and the context.
Performance ethnography: Performance ethnography is a research method that combines the principles of performance studies and ethnographic research to explore cultural practices and social phenomena through performance. This approach emphasizes the act of storytelling, allowing researchers to engage with communities and reflect on their lived experiences, often highlighting marginalized voices and perspectives.
Performance Studies Reader: A Performance Studies Reader is a curated collection of writings, essays, and research that explores the multifaceted nature of performance across various disciplines and contexts. This compilation serves as a foundational text for understanding how performance intersects with culture, society, and art, thereby reflecting the origins and development of performance studies as an academic field.
Performative: The term 'performative' refers to actions or utterances that not only communicate information but also bring about a specific effect or change in the world. This concept is deeply connected to how meaning is constructed and understood in various contexts, emphasizing that language and actions can create realities rather than simply reflect them.
Performative Turn: The performative turn refers to a shift in the social sciences and humanities that emphasizes the role of performance in shaping social and cultural realities. This concept highlights how actions, gestures, and language not only communicate meaning but also actively construct identities and societal norms. By focusing on performativity, this perspective opens up discussions around how everyday actions, rituals, and artistic expressions can reflect and influence power dynamics, identities, and historical narratives.
Presentation of self: The presentation of self refers to the way individuals express themselves and manage their identity in social interactions. This concept emphasizes how people perform their identities based on social contexts, using various strategies to shape how others perceive them. It connects deeply with the ways in which performance studies have developed as a field, and it is particularly relevant in understanding how people curate their online personas through social media.
Restored Behavior: Restored behavior refers to the reenactment or re-presentation of past actions, gestures, or rituals in a performance context, often with the intention of recreating or remembering a significant experience. This concept highlights how performance can bring back elements of culture, history, or personal experience, allowing audiences to engage with these moments anew. It connects to various aspects of performance studies by examining how past actions inform present performances, the role of memory in storytelling, and how performances can act as vehicles for protest and social change.
Richard Schechner: Richard Schechner is a prominent American performance theorist, director, and writer known for his foundational work in performance studies and his exploration of the intersections between performance, ritual, and culture. His theories have significantly influenced the understanding of performance as a social and cultural phenomenon, emphasizing its role in shaping identity and community.
Ritual Theory: Ritual theory examines the structured and symbolic actions that are repeated in specific contexts, often reflecting cultural beliefs and social norms. This theory connects with how performances, both sacred and secular, shape human experiences, revealing deeper meanings and reinforcing communal identities. Understanding ritual theory helps to explain how these performances create shared meaning, continuity, and connection among individuals within various cultural contexts.
Social Drama: Social drama is a concept in performance studies that refers to the public and often contentious events that arise within a community, highlighting the conflicts, tensions, and resolutions that shape social relationships. This idea not only reflects the dynamics of social interaction but also serves as a lens through which to analyze various forms of performance, such as theater and rituals, as they relate to societal issues and collective experiences.
Sociolinguistics: Sociolinguistics is the study of how language varies and changes in social contexts, focusing on the relationship between language and society. This field examines factors such as class, ethnicity, gender, and age, which influence language use and perception. By understanding these connections, sociolinguistics helps reveal how language functions as a tool for identity and social interaction.
Speech act theory: Speech act theory is a framework that explores how language functions not just to convey information but also to perform actions. This theory highlights that when we speak, we are often doing something—such as making promises, issuing commands, or asking questions—rather than simply stating facts. Understanding this concept is crucial as it ties into the origins of performance studies by showcasing how communication is an active performance, and it also emphasizes the performative nature of language, where words can create reality and social dynamics.
Tdr: the drama review: tdr: the drama review is a scholarly journal dedicated to the study and critique of contemporary performance and theatre. This publication has been influential in shaping discourse around performance studies, providing a platform for critical essays, reviews, and research that explore the complexities of performance as an art form and cultural phenomenon.
Transnational performance practices: Transnational performance practices refer to artistic and performance activities that cross national boundaries and engage with multiple cultures, identities, and narratives. These practices reflect the complexities of globalization, where artists draw from diverse cultural influences, often resulting in hybrid forms of expression that challenge traditional notions of identity and place.
Victor Turner: Victor Turner was a renowned anthropologist known for his influential work on the social and cultural significance of performance, particularly through the concepts of liminality and communitas. His research illuminated how rituals and performances play a crucial role in societal dynamics, emphasizing their power in shaping identity and community.