1.1 Defining performance and performance studies

Performance studies examines how we express ourselves through actions, from theater to everyday life. It looks at how performances shape our identities and reflect society. This field blends insights from many disciplines to understand human behavior.

Performance can be artistic, like a play, or social, like how we act on social media. It involves performers, audiences, and specific settings. Studying performance helps us see how our actions create meaning in different contexts.

Performance: Definition and Contexts

Defining Performance

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• Performance is an embodied practice involving the presentation of artistic, social, or cultural actions in front of an audience
• Encompasses a wide range of human activities (theater, dance, rituals, everyday interactions)
• Performance studies examines performance in diverse contexts:
  1. Artistic performances (theater, dance, music)
  2. Cultural performances (rituals, festivals, ceremonies)
  3. Social performances (gender, race, politics)

Interdisciplinary Nature of Performance Studies

• Draws from various disciplines to analyze and interpret the meaning and significance of performances:
  1. Anthropology
  2. Sociology
  3. Theater
  4. Cultural studies
• Emerged in the 1970s, building upon the work of scholars such as Richard Schechner and Victor Turner
• Expanded the notion of performance beyond the traditional realm of the arts

Artistic Practice vs. Social Lens

Performance as an Artistic Practice

• Refers to the creation and presentation of artistic works designed to be performed in front of an audience (plays, dance pieces, musical compositions)
• Often intentionally crafted and rehearsed
• Examples:
  1. A Broadway musical production
  2. A ballet performance by a professional dance company

Performance as a Lens for Analyzing Social and Cultural Phenomena

• Examines everyday actions, behaviors, and interactions as performances carrying meaning and significance within specific social and cultural contexts
• May be unconscious or unintentional, occurring as part of daily life
• Examples:
  1. The way individuals present themselves on social media
  2. The rituals and customs associated with a wedding ceremony
• Analyzes both artistic and social/cultural performances to understand how they reflect, shape, and challenge societal norms, values, and power structures

Elements of Performance

Performers and Audience

• Performers: Individuals or groups who enact the performance (actors, dancers, musicians, participants in social or cultural events)
• Audience: Individuals or groups who witness and engage with the performance, either directly or indirectly
• The relationship between performers and audience is a key aspect of performance dynamics

Space and Time

• Space: Physical or virtual environment in which the performance takes place, influencing the meaning and impact of the performance
• Time: Duration and temporal structure of the performance (rhythm, pacing, relationship to real-world time)
• The use of space and time can shape the audience's experience and interpretation of the performance

Action and Text

• Action: Specific movements, gestures, sounds, and behaviors that make up the performance, which can be scripted or improvised
• Text: Spoken, written, or implied narrative or content of the performance, which may be predetermined or emergent
• The interplay between action and text contributes to the overall meaning and impact of the performance

Significance of Performance Studies

Understanding Identity and Social Norms

• Provides a framework for understanding the role of performance in shaping individual and collective identities
• Examines how performances perpetuate or challenge social norms and power structures
• Encourages critical analysis of the cultural, historical, and political contexts in which performances occur

Interdisciplinary Approach and Practical Applications

• Draws insights from fields such as anthropology, sociology, psychology, and cultural studies, allowing for a holistic examination of human behavior and expression
• Contributes to the development of critical thinking skills by encouraging students to analyze and interpret performances from multiple perspectives
• Has practical applications in areas such as arts education, cultural policy, social activism, and community development

Challenging Traditional Boundaries and Promoting Diversity

• Challenges traditional disciplinary boundaries and promotes a more inclusive and diverse approach to scholarship
• Recognizes the value of embodied knowledge and the experiences of marginalized communities
• Encourages the exploration of diverse forms of human expression and their significance within various cultural contexts