Chapter One: What is Performance Studies?

Let's discuss the first chapter of Richard Schechner's textbook, Performance Studies: An Introduction

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Welcome to the first chapter of Performance Studies: An Introduction by Richard Schechner. As the title suggests, it explores the history of performance studies, some of the thinkers in the discipline, and seeks to answer the question of what is performance studies.

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Let’s talk about some of the things I’ve learned from this chapter.

There are two main branches of performance studies, at least in the US. I’m not entirely sure if there are other branches of performance studies outside of the US.

Performance studies at New York University

Schechner is associated with NYU, so I’m sure his flavor of performance studies is going skew in that direction.

What I gather is that NYU’s brand of performance studies developed from theatre studies. Schechner indicates that NYU’s performance studies exists at the intersection of theatre, dance, and social science. Performance studies at NYU includes gender studies, queer studies, post-structuralism, postcolonial studies, and critical race theory.

Performance studies at Northwestern University

Unlike NYU, the performance studies at Northwestern has its origins in communication studies. This branch of performance studies includes oral interpretation, communication, speech-act theory, ethnography, personal narrative, literature, etc.

Regardless of which branch of performance studies we’re talking about, the field is interdisciplinary.

I personally like the interdisciplinary nature of performance studies; how different disciplines interact fascinates me.

Multiple types of literacies?

Those of us who spend time in certain online circles will have seen people espousing that literacy is dead because nobody reads books anymore.

Schechner argues that there has been an explosion of multiple literacies. By this, he means things like “body literacy.”

I’ll be honest, when I first read this, I felt a bit skeptical. But I suppose I’d like to know more about what he means.

There exists two extremes in literacy: low-level and high-level.

Schechner argues that while mid-level literacy is on the decline, low-level and high-level literacy are very much things.

Schechner defines high-level literacy as the realm of academics and acknowledges that academics are not great at conveying ideas to non-academics.

The chapter weaves in introductions to some thinkers in performance studies.

This includes Diana Taylor and Victor Turner. I’m sure I’ll be learning more about these folks as time goes on.

Elements of anthropology are adapted for performance studies.

In anthropology, there is the idea of “participant observation.” Anthropology often sees Western culture as the home culture, while non-Western cultures are seen as the “other” culture.

In performance studies, the “other” can be your own culture. Performance is the fieldwork.

Conclusion

I think I covered everything that stood out to me. I’m looking forward to learning more.