One Night Only: Performance and Technology in the American Avant-Garde
THEA 317
Spring 2018 not offered
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Crosslisting:
AMST 277, FGSS 317 |
Performance is usually defined by its presence on a stage, by its noise, mess, and theatrical flourish in the here-and-now. Media, on the other hand, is thought of as fixed, repeatable, and unchanging. In this course we will ask: What does it mean for media to perform and, conversely, what does it mean when performance is taped, digitized, and mediated? Using the perceived tension at the intersection of performance and technology, we will explore key performance studies terms such as liveness, presence, ephemera, performance, and documentation. We will examine technology and its uses in performances, as well as the relationship technology has to theories of performance more broadly. We will focus in particular on the relationship between media and performance in contemporary American performance. Students will be asked to contribute to a class website conversation, archive live performance, and produce keyword video dialogues. Texts and artistic sites will include Reza Abdoh, Dynasty Handbag, Adrian Piper, Vito Acconci, Nam June Paik, Todd Haynes, Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, My Barbarian, Walter Benjamin, Wendy Chun, Donna J. Haraway, Lev Manovich, Peggy Phelan, Brian Massumi, Lisa Nakamura, Alexander Galloway, and Mladen Dolar. |
Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA THEA |
Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (AMST) |
Major Readings:
Fred Moten, IN THE BREAK Todd Haynes, SUPERSTAR Walter Benjamin, ART IN THE AGE OF MECHANICAL REPRODUCIBILITY Wendy Chun, NEW MEDIA, OLD MEDIA Donna J. Haraway, CYBORG MANIGESTO Peggy Phelan, UNMARKED Mladen Dolar, A VOICE AND NOTHING MORE Marshal Mcluhan, THE MEDIUM IS THE MASSAGE Dynasty Handbag, A DREAM IS NOT A LIFE Reza Abdoh, BOGEYMAN Nam June Paik, MERCE BY MERCE BY PAIK John Cage, 4'33
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Examinations and Assignments: Students will be asked to contribute to a class website conversation, archive live performance, and produce keyword video dialogues. Readings and viewing will culminate in a research paper. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments: The course counts as a dramatic literature/crticism requirement for theater major.
The Theater Department organizes a variety of performances for students enrolled in its courses. Field trips to see performances off campus are integrated into course syllabi. Instructors will notify students of all dates at the beginning of the semester and costs for all course field trips are covered (specifically, transportation to and from the performance and tickets). Any potential scheduling conflicts for field trips should be discussed with faculty members. Once students indicate that they are going and tickets are purchased, it is assumed they will attend. (Students backing out of field trips they had said they would attend will be asked to cover the cost of their ticket.)Performances of visitors to Wesleyan¿s Center for the Arts are integrated into course syllabi and students are required to attend these performances unless otherwise negotiated with instructors. Tickets for performances are available to students at the Box Office in Usdan at the reduced price of $6.00. |
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