Advanced Performance Theory and Dance Studies

Catalog description

Building on the "Performance and Performativity" seminar, this class will concentrate on critical and artistic work central to performance theory and dance studies done in the last two decades. The class will be concerned with these general topics: A. the space of performance: how have museums and alternative spaces influenced recent scholarly discussions in dance and live art? B. the concept of alterity: a preoccupation with otherness has been central to Performance Theory and Dance Studies. We will consider why this is the case and what this concept has meant for scholarly work. C. How has the 'decline of critical theory' in the humanities influenced the development of dance and performance studies? D. What are the most promising new directions for performance and dance scholarship? Readings will be interdisciplinary, and students will be expected to be familiar with the first generation of Performance and Dance Studies (including anthropological contributions), as well as with foundational work in queer theory (Butler, Sedgwick, Munoz). While much of our work will be derived from the United States context, non-US perspectives are welcome, especially those we might call post-anthropological.