Engaging the Public through Performance

One of art’s main characteristic is its publicness, which is to say that the idea of ‘the public’ is embedded in how an artwork is both made and presented to others. This course focuses on how performing arts in particular engage their public, how they propose different modes of spectatorship and attention and how they understand and ‘make’ a public. Students will be acquainted with theoretical debates over the public (sphere), spectatorship and the politicality of performance in and outside the context of the arts. The course draws particular focus on the analysis, discussion and practical experimentation with performance works that happen in the public space, with performances/events that address the question of audience participation and with activist artistic practice (artivism).

Format
The course format is based on debates, practical exercises and seminars, and include analysis of pertinent texts and critical examination of performances (live and recorded). It is taught by four different teachers with intersecting fields of expertise in theory, music, dance and theatre. Students are required to visit approximately three professional performances/events that will be proposed by the teachers, to study and analyze the assigned texts, to fulfill practical preparatory tasks, to actively participate in sessions and to hand in a written assignment (critical analysis). During the course, students will undertake a practical assignment (in groups) for creating a performance work/intervention that addresses the topics discussed in the sessions.