🎬Performance Studies Unit 13 – Applied Performance Studies

What's This Unit All About?

• Applied Performance Studies focuses on the practical application of performance theories and techniques in various contexts beyond traditional theater settings
• Explores how performance can be used as a tool for social change, community engagement, education, and personal growth
• Investigates the role of performance in shaping identity, culture, and power dynamics within society
• Examines the intersection of performance with other disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, psychology, and political science
• Emphasizes the transformative potential of performance to challenge norms, inspire empathy, and promote dialogue

Key Concepts and Theories

• Performance ethnography involves the study of cultural practices and social interactions through the lens of performance
  • Researchers engage in participant observation and embody the experiences of the community they are studying
• Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed empowers marginalized communities to use theater as a means of social and political activism
  • Techniques include Forum Theatre, where audience members intervene in the performance to explore alternative outcomes
• Victor Turner's concept of liminality describes the transitional state between two phases of life or social status
  • Liminal spaces, such as rituals or performances, allow for the temporary suspension of norms and the exploration of new possibilities
• Dwight Conquergood's dialogical performance emphasizes the co-creation of meaning between performers and audiences
  • Encourages a reciprocal exchange of ideas and experiences rather than a one-way transmission of knowledge
• Richard Schechner's performance theory expands the definition of performance beyond theater to include everyday actions and cultural practices
  • Argues that performance is a fundamental aspect of human behavior and communication

Historical Context

• Applied Performance Studies emerged in the 1960s and 1970s as part of the broader movement towards socially engaged art and activism
• Influenced by the civil rights movement, feminist theory, and postcolonial studies, which challenged traditional power structures and advocated for marginalized voices
• Practitioners drew from various artistic traditions, including experimental theater, performance art, and oral storytelling
• The field gained momentum in the 1980s and 1990s with the rise of community-based theater and the increasing recognition of performance as a legitimate research methodology
• In recent years, Applied Performance Studies has expanded to encompass a wide range of practices, from public health interventions to corporate training programs

Performance Techniques and Methods

• Participatory theater involves the active engagement of audience members in the creation and performance of the work
  • Can range from simple call-and-response techniques to more complex forms of improvisation and devised theater
• Site-specific performance takes place in non-traditional venues, such as public spaces, historical sites, or community centers
  • Engages with the unique history, architecture, and social dynamics of the location
• Verbatim theater uses the exact words of real people, often gathered through interviews or public records, to create a script
  • Aims to give voice to marginalized perspectives and shed light on social issues
• Image theater, a technique from Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed, uses still images and tableaux to explore power dynamics and oppression
  • Participants create and manipulate images with their bodies to analyze and transform social situations
• Reminiscence theater draws on the memories and life experiences of older adults to create performances that celebrate their stories and wisdom
  • Can promote intergenerational understanding and combat ageism

Case Studies and Examples

• In "The Laramie Project," Moisés Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project used interviews with residents of Laramie, Wyoming, to create a play about the murder of Matthew Shepard and its impact on the community
  • The play has been performed around the world and has sparked conversations about hate crimes and LGBTQ+ rights
• Rhodessa Jones' "The Medea Project: Theater for Incarcerated Women" uses performance to help women in prison explore their experiences of trauma, addiction, and incarceration
  • The program has been shown to reduce recidivism rates and improve mental health outcomes for participants
• The "Theatre for Development" movement in Africa uses performance to address issues such as HIV/AIDS, gender inequality, and environmental conservation
  • Performances are often created in collaboration with local communities and incorporate traditional music, dance, and storytelling
• In "Cry for Peace: Voices from the Congo," Ping Chong + Company worked with Congolese refugees in New York City to create a documentary theater piece about their experiences of war and displacement
  • The project aimed to raise awareness about the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and advocate for peace and justice
• The "Headwaters Project" by the Sojourn Theatre used site-specific performances along the Columbia River to explore the complex relationships between humans, nature, and industry in the Pacific Northwest
  • The project engaged with issues of environmental justice, indigenous rights, and sustainable development

Practical Applications

• Applied Performance Studies can be used in educational settings to promote active learning, critical thinking, and empathy
  • For example, drama therapy can help students with special needs develop social skills and emotional regulation
• In the field of public health, performance-based interventions can be used to promote healthy behaviors and reduce stigma around sensitive topics such as mental illness or sexual health
  • The "Sex Etc." program uses peer-led theater performances to educate teenagers about sexual health and relationships
• Performance can be a powerful tool for community building and conflict resolution
  • The "Playback Theatre" method uses improvisational storytelling to help communities process shared experiences and build empathy and understanding
• In the corporate world, applied performance techniques can be used for leadership development, team building, and diversity and inclusion training
  • The "Forum Theatre for Business" program uses Boal's techniques to help employees navigate difficult workplace situations and promote a more inclusive and equitable culture
• Performance can also be used as a form of activism and advocacy, raising awareness about social and political issues and mobilizing communities for change
  • The "Bread and Puppet Theater" has been using large-scale puppet performances to protest war, racism, and economic inequality since the 1960s

Critical Analysis and Debates

• Some critics argue that Applied Performance Studies can be exploitative, using the stories and experiences of marginalized communities for the benefit of privileged artists and researchers
  • It is important for practitioners to engage in ongoing self-reflection and to prioritize the needs and agency of the communities they work with
• There are also debates about the efficacy and long-term impact of performance-based interventions
  • While some studies have shown promising results, more research is needed to understand the specific mechanisms of change and to develop best practices for implementation and evaluation
• The field of Applied Performance Studies has been criticized for its lack of diversity and inclusion, both in terms of practitioners and the communities they work with
  • Efforts are being made to address these issues through initiatives such as the "Theatre of the Oppressed NYC" program, which trains diverse groups of activists and community leaders in Boal's techniques
• Some scholars have questioned the boundaries between Applied Performance Studies and other fields such as social work, education, and public health
  • While interdisciplinary collaboration can be fruitful, it is important to maintain the unique contributions and perspectives of performance as a distinct mode of inquiry and practice
• There are ongoing debates about the role of aesthetics and artistry in Applied Performance Studies
  • Some practitioners prioritize social and political impact over artistic quality, while others argue that the two are inextricably linked and that powerful performances can be a catalyst for change

Connections to Other Fields

• Applied Performance Studies draws on theories and methods from anthropology, such as ethnography and participant observation, to study the cultural and social dimensions of performance
• The field is closely related to sociology, particularly in its analysis of power dynamics, social norms, and collective behavior
• Performance has been used as a therapeutic tool in psychology and counseling, such as in psychodrama and drama therapy
• Applied Performance Studies intersects with political science in its examination of the role of performance in shaping public opinion, mobilizing social movements, and challenging oppressive systems
• The field also has connections to education, particularly in the use of performance techniques for experiential learning and the development of critical thinking and communication skills
• Applied Performance Studies shares many goals and methods with social work, such as empowering marginalized communities and promoting social justice
• The field has been influenced by feminist and queer theory, particularly in its analysis of gender and sexuality in performance and its emphasis on the personal as political
• Applied Performance Studies also has connections to public health, such as in the use of performance for health education and behavior change interventions