The Problems Of Viewing Performance

The Problems of Viewing Performance

The Problems of Viewing Performance challenges long-held assumptions by considering the ways in which knowledge is received by more than a single audience member, and breaks new ground by, counterintuitively, claiming that viewing performance is not a shared experience. Given that viewers come to each performance with differing amounts and types of knowledge, they each make different assumptions as to how the performance will unfold. Often modified by other viewers and often after the performance event, knowledge of performance is made more accurate by superimposing the experiences and justified beliefs of multiple viewers. These differences in the viewing experience make knowledge surrounding a performance intersubjective. Ultimately, this book explains the how and the why audience members have different viewing experiences. The Problems of Viewing Performance is important reading for theatre and performance students, scholars and practitioners, as it unpacks the dynamics of spectatorship and explores how audiences work.

ASD Technical Report

Philosophy, Analytic Aesthetics, and Theater

Bringing together the latest research and perspectives in the fields of analytic philosophy and theater studies, this collection of essays provides a reflection of how these two fields have emerged and intersected in the twenty-first century. With contributions from leading scholars in the field and emerging voices, Philosophy, Analytic Aesthetics, and Theater provides new insights into the field of philosophy and theater. Structured in three parts, Part I, "Epistemology," explores perspectives on theater as a knowledge-making system, the conventions of theater, and reflects on current practice that engages with aesthetics. Part II, "Politics and Ethics," draws on an evaluation of the ways in which theater and democracy interact, as well as the current conversations around ethical issues within the performance space. And finally, Part III, "Theater and Other Arts," takes a look at the ways in which philosophy has interacted with the art of dance, musical theater, and film, looking beyond the traditional confines of actors, stage, and audience. Edited by Michael Y. Bennett, these essays introduce the latest research in philosophy and theater in an accessible and engaging manner. The book is ideal for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students, scholars of theater and performance studies, and philosophy students and scholars with an interest in theater.