Glossary

6.5 Performance and disability studies

9 min read•august 21, 2024

Performance studies and disability studies intersect to explore how disability is represented, experienced, and understood in theatrical contexts. This field challenges traditional notions of ability, promoting a more inclusive approach to performance while investigating how disability influences artistic expression and cultural perceptions.

The topic examines historical perspectives, social and medical models of disability, onstage, and in performance. It also highlights the contributions of disabled performers, explores spaces, and analyzes how disability itself can be viewed as a form of performance in everyday life.

Disability studies in performance

  • Explores the intersection of disability and performance art, examining how disability is represented, experienced, and understood in theatrical contexts
  • Challenges traditional notions of ability and disability, promoting a more inclusive and diverse approach to performance studies
  • Investigates the ways in which disability influences artistic expression, audience reception, and cultural perceptions

Historical perspectives on disability

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  • Traces the evolution of disability representation in performance from ancient times to the present
  • Examines the portrayal of disabled characters in classical theater (Oedipus Rex)
  • Analyzes the shift from freak shows to more nuanced representations in modern performance
  • Highlights key moments in disability rights movements and their impact on theatrical practices

Social model of disability

  • Emphasizes societal barriers and attitudes as the primary source of disability rather than individual impairments
  • Focuses on how performance can challenge and reshape societal perceptions of disability
  • Explores the role of accessible spaces and inclusive practices in theater
  • Examines how this model influences the creation and interpretation of disability-themed performances

Medical model vs social model

  • Contrasts the medical model's focus on "fixing" impairments with the social model's emphasis on societal change
  • Analyzes how these models influence character development and storylines in performance
  • Explores the impact of each model on audience perceptions and expectations
  • Examines performances that critique or subvert the medical model (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time)

Representation of disability onstage

  • Analyzes the portrayal of disabled characters in contemporary theater and performance art
  • Examines the use of non-disabled actors playing disabled roles and its implications
  • Explores the impact of authentic representation on audience perception and cultural attitudes
  • Discusses the challenges and opportunities in creating nuanced, multi-dimensional disabled characters

Disability aesthetics in performance

  • Investigates how disability influences artistic choices in staging, choreography, and design
  • Examines the use of alternative communication methods in performance (sign language, audio description)
  • Explores how disability-specific experiences inform new artistic expressions and techniques
  • Analyzes performances that celebrate disability as a unique form of embodied knowledge and creativity

Disabled performers and artists

  • Highlights the contributions of disabled artists to the field of performance studies and practice
  • Examines how the presence of disabled performers challenges traditional notions of ability and artistry
  • Explores the impact of disabled artists on expanding the boundaries of performance techniques and aesthetics

Visibility and representation

  • Analyzes the importance of authentic representation of disabled performers in mainstream theater and media
  • Examines the impact of increased visibility on public perceptions and cultural attitudes towards disability
  • Explores the challenges faced by disabled performers in accessing opportunities and recognition
  • Discusses the role of disability-specific festivals and showcases in promoting visibility (DisabilityArts International Festival)

Accessibility in performance spaces

  • Investigates physical and sensory accessibility measures in theaters and performance venues
  • Examines the implementation of universal design principles in performance spaces
  • Explores the use of assistive technologies to enhance audience experience (, audio description)
  • Discusses the challenges and successes in creating truly environments

Disability-led theater companies

  • Examines the emergence and impact of theater companies founded and led by disabled artists
  • Analyzes how these companies challenge traditional theater practices and narratives
  • Explores the unique perspectives and artistic innovations brought by disability-led productions
  • Discusses notable examples of and their contributions (Graeae Theatre Company)

Disability as performance

  • Explores the concept of disability itself as a form of performance in everyday life and artistic contexts
  • Examines how the experience of disability shapes individual and collective identities
  • Investigates the ways in which disability challenges and expands traditional notions of performance

Performativity of disability

  • Analyzes how disability is enacted and performed in daily life and social interactions
  • Examines the ways in which societal expectations shape the performance of disability
  • Explores how disabled individuals navigate and subvert these expectations through performance
  • Discusses the concept of "cripping up" and its implications in performance contexts

Passing and disclosure

  • Investigates the phenomenon of passing as non-disabled and its psychological and social implications
  • Examines the decision-making process around disclosing one's disability in personal and professional contexts
  • Explores how are portrayed in performance art and theater
  • Analyzes the impact of passing and disclosure on identity formation and community belonging

Crip time and space

  • Examines the concept of "crip time" as a alternative temporal framework in disability culture
  • Explores how disability influences the perception and use of space in performance contexts
  • Investigates how challenge traditional theatrical conventions
  • Discusses performances that incorporate crip time and space into their structure and content (Back to Back Theatre's "The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes")

Intersectionality and disability

  • Explores the intersection of disability with other aspects of identity such as race, gender, and class
  • Examines how multiple marginalized identities influence the experience and representation of disability in performance
  • Investigates the unique challenges and perspectives brought by intersectional approaches to disability performance

Race and disability in performance

  • Analyzes the representation of disabled people of color in theater and performance art
  • Examines the unique challenges faced by performers with intersecting racial and disability identities
  • Explores how race and disability intersect in character development and storytelling
  • Discusses performances that address the complexities of race and disability (Lynn Manning's "Weights")

Gender and disability onstage

  • Investigates the intersection of gender identity and disability in performance contexts
  • Examines how gender stereotypes and expectations interact with disability representation
  • Explores performances that challenge traditional gender roles through a disability lens
  • Analyzes the work of disabled LGBTQ+ performers and their impact on theater and performance art

Class and disability representation

  • Examines how socioeconomic factors influence the representation of disability in performance
  • Investigates the accessibility of theater and performance art for disabled individuals from different class backgrounds
  • Explores performances that address the intersection of class and disability (John Belluso's "The Poor Itch")
  • Analyzes the impact of class on opportunities for disabled performers and artists

Audience reception of disability

  • Investigates how audiences perceive and respond to disability in performance contexts
  • Examines the role of performance in shaping public attitudes towards disability
  • Explores the potential of theater and performance art to challenge ableist assumptions and promote empathy

Spectatorship and disability

  • Analyzes how audiences interpret and engage with performances featuring disabled performers or themes
  • Examines the impact of prior knowledge and experiences on audience reception of disability performances
  • Explores the role of marketing and framing in shaping audience expectations
  • Discusses strategies for preparing audiences for disability-inclusive performances

Empathy vs objectification

  • Investigates the fine line between fostering empathy and objectifying disabled performers
  • Examines how performance techniques can promote genuine understanding rather than pity or inspiration porn
  • Explores the concept of "the gaze" in relation to disability performance
  • Analyzes performances that challenge audience assumptions and promote critical reflection (Mat Fraser's "Cabinet of Curiosities")

Challenging ableist assumptions

  • Examines how performance can be used to confront and dismantle ableist beliefs and attitudes
  • Investigates the use of humor, satire, and subversion in challenging disability stereotypes
  • Explores the role of post-show discussions and educational programs in promoting disability awareness
  • Analyzes performances that directly address and challenge ableist assumptions (Sins Invalid)

Disability in performance texts

  • Examines the representation of disability in dramatic literature and performance scripts
  • Investigates how disability themes and characters have evolved in theatrical texts over time
  • Explores the impact of disability studies on the interpretation and adaptation of classic and contemporary texts

Disability narratives in drama

  • Analyzes the portrayal of disabled characters and their stories in dramatic literature
  • Examines the evolution of disability narratives from stereotypical to more nuanced representations
  • Explores the impact of disabled playwrights on the creation of authentic disability narratives
  • Discusses notable plays that center disability experiences (Sarah Kane's "4.48 Psychosis")

Disability metaphors in literature

  • Investigates the use of disability as metaphor or symbolism in dramatic texts
  • Examines the implications and potential harm of using disability as a literary device
  • Explores how disability metaphors can be subverted or reclaimed in performance
  • Analyzes texts that challenge or complicate traditional disability metaphors (Samuel Beckett's "Endgame")

Adapting texts for inclusive performance

  • Examines strategies for adapting classic and contemporary texts to be more disability-inclusive
  • Investigates the challenges and opportunities in reimagining characters as disabled
  • Explores the use of alternative communication methods in text adaptation (sign language, captioning)
  • Discusses successful examples of disability-inclusive adaptations of well-known works (Deaf West Theatre's "Spring Awakening")

Technology and disability performance

  • Explores the intersection of technology and disability in performance contexts
  • Examines how technological advancements have expanded possibilities for disabled performers and audiences
  • Investigates the potential of technology to create new forms of disability-inclusive performance

Assistive technologies onstage

  • Analyzes the integration of assistive technologies into live performance
  • Examines how technologies like eye-gaze systems and speech-to-text software enable new forms of artistic expression
  • Explores the aesthetic possibilities created by incorporating assistive technologies into performance design
  • Discusses performances that showcase innovative use of assistive technologies ('s "Descent")

Digital accessibility in performance

  • Investigates strategies for making digital performances and online theater accessible to disabled audiences
  • Examines the challenges and opportunities presented by virtual performance platforms
  • Explores the use of captions, audio description, and other accessibility features in digital performances
  • Analyzes the impact of increased digital accessibility on audience diversity and engagement

Virtual reality and disability representation

  • Examines the potential of virtual reality (VR) to create immersive disability-related experiences
  • Investigates how VR can be used to simulate different embodied experiences of disability
  • Explores the challenges and ethical considerations in creating VR disability simulations
  • Discusses examples of VR projects that address disability themes or experiences (Notes on Blindness VR)

Disability activism through performance

  • Examines the use of performance as a tool for disability rights advocacy and social change
  • Investigates how disabled artists use their work to challenge societal norms and promote disability justice
  • Explores the impact of disability activism on the broader field of performance studies and practice

Protest performances and disability rights

  • Analyzes the use of performance techniques in disability rights protests and demonstrations
  • Examines how street theater and guerrilla performance have been used to raise awareness of disability issues
  • Explores the role of performance in disability pride parades and events
  • Discusses notable examples of protest performances in disability rights history (Capitol Crawl)

Disability pride in performance

  • Investigates how performance art and theater celebrate disability identity and culture
  • Examines the concept of "crip culture" and its expression through performance
  • Explores how disability pride performances challenge internalized and promote self-acceptance
  • Analyzes performances that explicitly celebrate disability identity and community (Liz Carr's "Assisted Suicide: The Musical")

Challenging stigma through art

  • Examines how performance can be used to confront and dismantle disability-related stigma
  • Investigates the use of personal narratives and autobiographical performance in challenging stereotypes
  • Explores how humor and satire can be effective tools in addressing disability stigma
  • Discusses performances that directly confront societal attitudes towards disability (Nina G's stand-up comedy)

Future directions in disability performance

  • Explores emerging trends and potential future developments in the field of disability performance
  • Examines how changing societal attitudes and technological advancements may shape future disability performance
  • Investigates the potential impact of disability performance on broader theatrical and cultural practices

Inclusive casting practices

  • Analyzes the movement towards more inclusive and authentic casting of disabled performers
  • Examines the concept of "color-blind" casting in relation to disability
  • Explores the challenges and opportunities in implementing truly
  • Discusses examples of productions that have successfully employed inclusive casting (National Theatre's "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time")

Universal design in theater

  • Investigates the application of universal design principles to theater architecture and production design
  • Examines how universal design can enhance the experience for both disabled and non-disabled audience members
  • Explores innovative approaches to creating fully accessible performance spaces
  • Analyzes examples of theaters and productions that have successfully implemented universal design principles

Emerging disability performance theories

  • Examines new theoretical frameworks emerging from the intersection of disability studies and performance studies
  • Investigates how these theories challenge and expand traditional understandings of performance and embodiment
  • Explores the potential impact of these theories on future performance practices and audience engagement
  • Discusses key theorists and their contributions to the evolving field of disability performance studies

Key Terms to Review (34)

Ableism: Ableism is the discrimination or social prejudice against individuals with disabilities, often resulting from the belief that typical abilities are superior. This mindset creates barriers and negative attitudes that devalue the experiences and contributions of disabled people. Ableism manifests in various forms, including systemic inequality, social exclusion, and the perpetuation of stereotypes about disability.
Accessibility in performance: Accessibility in performance refers to the ways in which artistic and cultural performances can be made available and inclusive for individuals with varying disabilities. This concept encompasses both physical access, such as wheelchair ramps and seating arrangements, as well as sensory access, including audio descriptions, captioning, and sign language interpretation, ensuring that all individuals can experience and participate in the arts fully.
Adapting texts for inclusive performance: Adapting texts for inclusive performance involves modifying existing scripts, stories, or theatrical works to ensure that they are accessible and representative of diverse audiences, including those with disabilities. This process emphasizes the importance of inclusivity in performance by considering various forms of representation and communication, allowing for more equitable participation in the arts. Such adaptations can range from altering language and staging to incorporating sign language, audio descriptions, and sensory-friendly elements to create an environment that welcomes all participants.
Assistive technologies onstage: Assistive technologies onstage refer to devices and systems designed to support performers with disabilities, enabling them to participate fully in theatrical productions. These technologies can range from physical devices like wheelchairs or prosthetics to digital tools such as captioning systems, audio descriptions, and sign language interpreters, all aimed at enhancing accessibility and inclusivity in performance arts.
Audience accessibility: Audience accessibility refers to the measures and practices that ensure performances can be experienced and understood by individuals with diverse abilities and needs. This concept emphasizes the importance of creating inclusive environments where barriers are removed, allowing everyone, regardless of disability, to engage with the performance fully. It encompasses aspects like physical access to venues, availability of assistive technologies, and the incorporation of sensory accommodations.
Audiodescription: Audiodescription is a service that provides verbal narration of visual elements in a performance or visual media, designed to assist individuals who are blind or have low vision. This narration occurs during natural pauses in dialogue and includes descriptions of actions, settings, costumes, and other relevant visual details, making performances more accessible and enhancing the experience for those who cannot see the visuals.
Captioning: Captioning is the process of displaying text on a screen to provide a written version of spoken dialogue and sound effects in media content. This practice enhances accessibility for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, ensuring that they can fully engage with the performance. Beyond mere translation of dialogue, captioning can also convey tone, speaker identification, and relevant sound cues, making it an essential aspect of inclusive design in performance contexts.
Challenging stigma through art: Challenging stigma through art refers to the use of artistic expression as a means to confront and dismantle societal prejudices, particularly those related to marginalized identities. This process allows artists to share their personal narratives and experiences, fostering empathy and understanding while promoting social change. By portraying authentic stories and diverse perspectives, art can serve as a powerful tool to challenge the stereotypes and misconceptions that contribute to stigma.
Crip Camp: Crip Camp refers to a groundbreaking summer camp called Camp Jened, which operated in the 1970s and became a pivotal space for young people with disabilities. This camp was a transformative experience for its attendees, fostering a sense of community and empowerment that played a crucial role in the disability rights movement. Through its activities and inclusive environment, Crip Camp created a foundation for activism that influenced legislative changes and the fight for equality for individuals with disabilities.
Crip theory: Crip theory is an academic framework that challenges societal norms surrounding disability, asserting that disability is not a deficit but a vital part of human diversity. This perspective highlights how performance can be a powerful medium to interrogate and reshape perceptions of disability, embracing non-normative bodies and experiences as significant and meaningful. Crip theory promotes the idea that disabled identities can influence cultural production, inviting broader conversations around inclusion and representation in the arts.
Crip time and space: Crip time and space refers to the ways in which time and physical environments are experienced and understood through the lens of disability. This concept highlights how traditional notions of productivity and normalcy are often at odds with the realities faced by disabled individuals, creating alternative understandings of time, accessibility, and social participation. By challenging the standard frameworks, crip time and space advocates for a more inclusive approach that recognizes diverse experiences and needs.
David Mitchell: David Mitchell is a prominent contemporary British author known for his unique narrative style and exploration of complex themes such as identity, interconnectedness, and the human experience. His works often blend elements of fantasy, science fiction, and literary fiction, reflecting the fluidity of time and space while frequently addressing issues of race, disability, and the impact of societal structures.
Devised theatre: Devised theatre is a collaborative form of performance creation where the script and structure emerge from the collective input of a group rather than following a pre-existing text. This process often involves experimentation, improvisation, and exploration of various themes, allowing for a more inclusive and dynamic form of storytelling. It emphasizes the voices and perspectives of the participants, making it particularly relevant in discussions around representation and identity.
Digital accessibility in performance: Digital accessibility in performance refers to the design and implementation of digital platforms and technologies that ensure all audiences, including those with disabilities, can participate in and experience live performances. This concept emphasizes the importance of making digital content—such as streaming performances, virtual events, and online resources—usable for everyone by incorporating features like captions, audio descriptions, and navigational tools tailored to various needs. It promotes inclusivity and equity within the arts, recognizing that access to culture should not be limited by physical or sensory impairments.
Disability aesthetics: Disability aesthetics refers to the ways in which disability is represented and perceived in art and performance, highlighting the aesthetic qualities of disabled bodies and experiences. This concept challenges traditional notions of beauty and normalcy, inviting audiences to appreciate the unique perspectives and contributions of disabled individuals within cultural contexts.
Disability metaphors in literature: Disability metaphors in literature refer to the use of disability as a symbolic device to convey deeper meanings, social commentary, or emotional experiences. These metaphors often frame disability in ways that reflect societal attitudes, challenge stereotypes, or highlight the human condition. By using disability as a metaphor, authors can evoke empathy, provoke thought, and critique cultural norms surrounding ability and disability.
Disability narratives in drama: Disability narratives in drama refer to the portrayal and exploration of disability experiences within theatrical works, aiming to challenge stereotypes and promote understanding. These narratives often give voice to marginalized individuals, highlighting their struggles, triumphs, and the complexities of living with disabilities, while also questioning societal norms and perceptions around disability.
Disability pride in performance: Disability pride in performance refers to the celebration and affirmation of disabled identities and experiences within the realm of performance arts. This concept emphasizes the importance of representation, self-acceptance, and the unique perspectives that disabled performers bring to their work, challenging traditional narratives and societal perceptions of disability. It seeks to empower individuals with disabilities by highlighting their artistry and the rich contributions they make to cultural expressions.
Disability-led theater companies: Disability-led theater companies are theatrical organizations that are primarily directed and operated by individuals with disabilities. These companies prioritize the voices, experiences, and creative expressions of disabled artists, aiming to challenge societal perceptions of disability while fostering inclusivity in the arts. By focusing on authentic representation, these companies not only produce compelling performances but also create a platform for dialogue around disability and the arts.
Emerging disability performance theories: Emerging disability performance theories focus on understanding and analyzing the ways disability is represented and performed in various contexts, particularly in performance art and culture. These theories challenge traditional narratives surrounding disability, emphasizing the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities and their roles as active participants in performance rather than passive subjects.
Inclusive casting practices: Inclusive casting practices refer to the intentional approach in the performing arts to cast actors with diverse backgrounds, including those with disabilities, in order to create a more equitable representation on stage and screen. This practice aims to challenge traditional casting norms that often exclude underrepresented groups, thereby fostering a culture of inclusivity and accessibility within the industry.
Inclusive performance: Inclusive performance refers to artistic expressions that intentionally engage diverse audiences, particularly those often marginalized or excluded due to disabilities or other differences. This concept emphasizes accessibility and representation, aiming to create spaces where all individuals can participate in and experience the arts, fostering community, understanding, and dialogue among varied groups.
Kinetic light: Kinetic light refers to the dynamic interaction of light with movement, often used to create visually engaging performances or installations. This concept explores how light can be manipulated through motion, not only illuminating space but also influencing the audience's perception and experience of performance. It emphasizes the relationship between visual aesthetics and bodily movement, bringing attention to how both elements can enhance storytelling and emotional expression.
Medical model of disability: The medical model of disability views disability primarily as a problem of the individual, focusing on medical impairments and limitations. It emphasizes diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation to 'fix' the person, often neglecting social and environmental factors that contribute to the experience of disability. This model has influenced healthcare practices and societal attitudes toward people with disabilities, framing them as needing help rather than as individuals with unique experiences.
Narrative agency: Narrative agency refers to the capacity of an individual or group to create, control, and influence their own stories and experiences within a narrative framework. This concept highlights the power dynamics involved in storytelling, particularly how marginalized voices can reclaim their narratives and challenge dominant narratives imposed upon them. In the context of performance and disability studies, narrative agency is crucial as it emphasizes the importance of individuals with disabilities being able to represent their own stories rather than being portrayed solely through the lens of others.
Passing and Disclosure: Passing refers to the ability of an individual, particularly one with a disability, to present themselves as non-disabled or to conceal their disability, while disclosure is the act of revealing one's disability status. These concepts are intertwined with the experiences of individuals in performance contexts, where the visibility of disability can affect both personal identity and societal perceptions. The dynamics of passing and disclosure can create significant implications for how disabled individuals navigate social environments and express themselves through performance.
Performativity of disability: Performativity of disability refers to the idea that disability is not just a static condition but is actively constructed and expressed through social interactions, behaviors, and cultural performances. This concept emphasizes how societal norms and expectations shape the experience and representation of disability, suggesting that identity can be performed and transformed through various contexts.
Protest performances and disability rights: Protest performances related to disability rights are expressive acts that seek to challenge societal perceptions and injustices faced by people with disabilities. These performances often blend art and activism, using various forms of expression—like theater, dance, or spoken word—to highlight issues such as accessibility, representation, and systemic discrimination. By employing performance as a medium for advocacy, they aim to raise awareness and provoke change in public attitudes and policies surrounding disability.
Representation: Representation refers to the ways in which ideas, identities, and experiences are depicted and communicated through various forms of performance and art. It plays a crucial role in shaping perceptions and understanding of cultural narratives, allowing for the exploration of identity, power dynamics, and social issues within diverse communities. By analyzing representation, we can uncover the layers of meaning and the impact that these portrayals have on society as a whole.
Rosemarie Garland-Thomson: Rosemarie Garland-Thomson is a prominent scholar known for her work in disability studies, particularly regarding the intersection of performance, representation, and identity. Her contributions help to illuminate how disability is perceived and depicted in various cultural forms, emphasizing the importance of including disabled voices in discussions about identity and representation in performance and beyond.
Site-specific performance: Site-specific performance refers to a type of performance that is created for, and is intended to exist in, a specific location, often engaging with the unique characteristics of that space. This kind of performance challenges traditional notions of theater by utilizing the environment, architecture, and community context as integral elements of the artistic experience.
Social model of disability: The social model of disability is a framework that views disability as a result of the interaction between individuals with impairments and societal barriers that limit their participation in everyday life. This model emphasizes that it is not the individual's impairment that defines their disability but rather the lack of accessibility and inclusion in society that creates barriers to equal opportunities.
Universal Design in Theater: Universal design in theater refers to the practice of creating performances and spaces that are accessible to all audiences, regardless of their physical, sensory, or cognitive abilities. This approach emphasizes inclusivity and aims to remove barriers that might prevent individuals with disabilities from experiencing the arts. By integrating universal design principles, theaters can create environments where everyone can participate fully in the performance experience, ensuring that artistic expression is available to all.
Virtual reality and disability representation: Virtual reality (VR) refers to computer-generated environments that simulate physical presence in real or imagined worlds, allowing users to interact with these environments using specialized equipment. In the context of disability representation, VR offers unique opportunities to explore and portray the experiences of individuals with disabilities, challenging stereotypes and providing immersive narratives that can foster empathy and understanding.
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