Performance Activism

Catalog description

Performance activism is an emergent phenomenon that draws from the humanities and social science, including anthropology, performance studies and performative psychology. We will learn about the precursors to performance activism (experimental, political and educational theatre), the influence of performative psychology and philosophy, and Latino and Latina voices in the movement. We will explore relationships between performance art and activism and integrate theory with embodied experience. Performance activism embodies a fundamental shift in the way (some) people are working to bring out social change. In the modern era, the dominant modality of social change was confrontation, demonstration and protest. The assumption behind this modality is that conflicting interests can only be overcome by antagonistic struggle. Performance activism embodies a new modality that draws upon the human capacity to play, create and perform. The premise is that people-even if and when their economic, social and/or political interests are in conflict-are capable of creating relationships, new activities and new ways of moving forward together.