Performance studies

Definition

Performance studies is an interdisciplinary field that examines the various ways in which performance manifests in everyday life, art, and culture. It explores the dynamics of live performance and the significance of embodied expression across different contexts, including theater, dance, ritual, and social practices. This field connects various aspects of human experience, making it relevant to diverse disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Performance studies emerged in the 1970s as a response to traditional approaches to theater and drama, incorporating insights from anthropology and sociology.
2. Key theorists like Richard Schechner have been instrumental in defining the scope of performance studies, emphasizing the importance of context and audience engagement.
3. The field investigates not just staged performances but also everyday activities that can be viewed as performative acts, such as rituals, protests, and social interactions.
4. Performance studies encourages a critical examination of how identity is constructed and expressed through performance, considering factors like race, gender, and class.
5. Collaborative projects within performance studies often engage communities in exploring their own narratives and identities through performance as a means of empowerment.

Review Questions

• How does performance studies challenge traditional boundaries between art and everyday life?
  • Performance studies challenges traditional boundaries by recognizing that performance is not limited to scripted theater or dance; it extends to everyday interactions and rituals that shape social norms. By analyzing both artistic performances and routine actions as performative acts, this field highlights the significance of embodiment and context in human experience. This broader understanding helps to reveal how identity is expressed and constructed through various forms of performance in everyday life.
• Discuss the contributions of Richard Schechner to the field of performance studies and how his ideas have influenced contemporary practices.
  • Richard Schechner's contributions to performance studies include his concept of 'performance as a cultural event,' which emphasizes the interplay between performer, audience, and context. His work has influenced contemporary practices by encouraging artists and scholars to consider the socio-cultural implications of their performances. Schechner's ideas about 'restored behavior' highlight how performances can reflect social norms and behaviors, leading to a deeper understanding of how performances function within society and can provoke change.
• Evaluate the significance of interdisciplinary approaches in performance studies for understanding complex social phenomena.
  • Interdisciplinary approaches in performance studies are significant because they allow for a richer analysis of complex social phenomena by integrating perspectives from fields like anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies. This convergence enables researchers to examine how performances shape identities, influence power dynamics, and reflect cultural values. By applying diverse methodologies and theoretical frameworks, scholars can uncover deeper meanings in both artistic expressions and everyday performances, ultimately enhancing our understanding of the human experience across different contexts.

Related terms

Embodiment: The process through which physical presence and bodily actions convey meaning and significance in performance.

Ritual:

A formalized set of actions performed in a specific context, often carrying cultural or religious significance.

Intermediality:

The exploration of how different media interact and influence each other in the context of performance.