One Night Only: Performance and Technology in the American Avant-Garde
THEA 317
Spring 2015
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
AMST 277, CHUM 338, 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. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA THEA |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Major Requirement for: (AMST) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 75% - 89% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
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. |
| Instructor(s): Brewer Ball,Katherine Times: ...W... 09:00AM-11:50AM; Location: TST101; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 16 | | SR major: 5 | JR major: 5 | | |
| Seats Available: 3 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 3 | JR non-major: 3 | SO: X | FR: X |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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