Spanning a hundred years (1910 – 2010) and three geographical locations – Europe, Japan and North America – this unique book examines the capacity of performance to recode reality. It argues for a seamless continuity between philosophy, critical theory and artistic practice. Each chapter ends with scores, providing readers with the opportunity to explore the discussed ideas in an embodied, and, where applicable, interactional way. The book's analysis of such landmark phenomena as the ready-made, action painting, intermedia, feminine writing, identity politics, cyborgian bio-art and ludic (h)activism make it an invaluable source for practical theorists, and undergraduate and Masters-level students of performance studies, performing arts, fine and visual arts and cultural studies.
Natasha Lushetich lectures at the University of Exeter, UK, where her specialist areas include intermedia, live art, questions of identity and ideology, and performance and philosophy.
IntroductionPART I: THE DYNAMIC TURN1. Vital Action2. The World Becomes3. The Quest for AuthenticityPART IIl THE DECONSTRUCTIVE TURN4. Against Commodity Fetishism5. The Way of the Body6. Resisting Determination, Resisting Interpretation7. Biopower and Female Writing8. Identity PoliticsPART III: THE DIGITAL TURN9. Mixing Reality10. Ludic (H)activism11. Beyond the Human-Non-Human DivideEpilogue.
This book’s synthesis of theory, performance analysis, and artistic pedagogy makes it useful for students, teachers, and practitioners of theatre, performance, and visual arts.