Performance Studies: An Introduction - Broad Spectrum of Performance

Summary

The script explores the broad spectrum of performance, from sacred rituals to secular practices like Anna Halprin's 'Circle the Earth,' which unites dancers globally in ecological celebration. It also delves into role-playing in various contexts, such as politics, sports, and family dynamics, emphasizing how roles are performed in daily life and on stage. The discussion covers how different genres of art, from ballet to rock music, intersect with social behavior, and how aesthetic performances, like Japanese No drama, can influence real-life actions. Ultimately, the script reflects on the dynamic relationship between social and artistic performances.

Takeaways

• 😀 There is a broad spectrum of performance genres, ranging from sacred rituals to secular ones, with examples like Anna Halprin's 'Circle the Earth' dance.
• 😀 Secular rituals can serve specific social or ecological purposes, as seen in the 'Circle the Earth' performance, which celebrates the Earth and seeks to address ecological concerns.
• 😀 Role-playing occurs not just on the stage but also in everyday life, like in job roles, societal functions, or political positions.
• 😀 Every person embodies a range of overlapping roles, and these roles are not fixed but emerge when performed, similar to the firing of neurons in the brain.
• 😀 The spectrum of performance spans from high arts, such as ballet and Chinese opera, to popular entertainments like rock music, showcasing the diversity of performance.
• 😀 Politicians and public figures perform specific roles, with politicians in democratic societies often emphasizing their ordinariness, while royalty must emphasize their royal status.
• 😀 The Queen of England, as a performance icon, must maintain an aura of royalty, and performing ordinary actions may undermine this image.
• 😀 Different social roles carry implicit behavior imperatives, dictating how individuals must perform in specific contexts (e.g., politicians or royalty).
• 😀 Art forms such as theater, dance, and music are influenced by real-world social roles, and in some cases, this relationship is reciprocal—art influences behavior and vice versa.
• 😀 Aesthetic genres like Japanese Noh drama can blur the lines between art and reality, with social behaviors sometimes mirroring those performed in art, creating an infinity loop between the two.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the script?

The main theme of the script revolves around the broad spectrum of performance, exploring its various genres, from sacred rituals to secular rituals, role-playing in social and political contexts, and how aesthetic performance influences social behavior.

How does the script differentiate between sacred and secular rituals?

Sacred rituals are typically tied to spiritual or religious practices, while secular rituals, like those created by Anna Halprin, focus on human-centered actions, such as environmental or social causes, like the 'Circle the Earth' dance, which emphasizes ecological awareness.

What is the significance of 'Circle the Earth' in the context of performance?

'Circle the Earth' is an example of a secular ritual where dancers perform at different times around the world, marking the dawn in various locations as a way to celebrate the Earth and address ecological disaster, demonstrating how performance can serve as activism.

How does role-playing in daily life compare to theatrical performances?

Role-playing in daily life, such as performing the role of a judge or professor, is an essential part of social interactions and professional settings. The script suggests that these roles are not separate from theatrical performance, but rather, they overlap as part of our identities and behaviors.

What does the script mean by 'each person is an overlapping set of spheres or circles'?

This concept suggests that human identity is not fixed to one role or essence. Instead, we embody multiple roles and behaviors that interact with each other, much like how different memories connect in the brain. These roles are only activated through performance.

Why does the script emphasize the broad spectrum of performance in the arts?

The script emphasizes this spectrum to highlight how performance can span from high art forms like ballet and opera to popular entertainment and political roles, showing the diversity of how performance exists in various forms across cultures and professions.

What role do social and political performances play in the context of the script?

The script discusses how politicians, sports figures, and other public figures perform roles that are deeply intertwined with their social and professional identities. For example, a politician may emphasize their ordinariness to relate to the common people, while a royal figure must constantly perform their royalty.

How does the Queen of England's performance reflect the broader idea of role-playing in society?

The Queen of England must embody her royal identity in every action, as her position is one of performance. Any attempt at performing ordinary behavior would be seen as beneath her royal status, highlighting how certain roles come with inherent behavioral imperatives.

How does the concept of performance influence aesthetic art forms, according to the script?

Aesthetic art forms like theater, dance, and music are influenced by social behaviors, making them highly artificial yet grounded in real-world social structures. Sometimes, these art forms can even impact social behavior, as seen in how the portrayal of a king on stage may influence the behavior of real-life monarchs.

What does the script mean by the 'infinity loop' between social performance and aesthetic performance?

The 'infinity loop' refers to the continuous exchange and influence between social behaviors and aesthetic performances. Social performances, like those of politicians or royals, can influence how art forms are created, and vice versa, with art sometimes altering societal behaviors and expectations.