OLD What is Performance?



Read: Richard Schechner,  “What is Performance?” from Performance Studies: An Introduction, 28-50.

and "All the World's a Campaign" by Michelle Volansy, American Theatre, August 22, 2016

and "The Theatre of Trump" by Mike Daisy,  American Theatre, August 22, 2016

Reading response – pick one of the two topic options below:

1. How does Schechner distinguish “is” and “as” performance? Observe an everyday encounter “as” performance. Does your observation of the encounter "as" performance change the encounter or not? If not, why not? If so, how? Would it be different if you carried out this observation in a group? If you can manage to get others to do this with you, try it.


2. What is an essential difference between "American theatre," as you understand it, and "American politics"?  To answer this, take a stab at briefly defining your terms. If there is no difference, why to do you argue that?  What most makes the difference?

3 Lift out one or more quotes from the Volansky and/or Daisy essay and  agree or disagree with what is stated.

Graduate Students also read Schechner Introduction to Performance Studies, 1-27,  and more of the book as a whole. Perhaps chose one or more of the "boxed" authors Schechner addresses and spend time with them in the library.  Begin to develop a set of questions to the field and lift out books you would want to read in further.


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