This first part of the blog post contains thoughts on performance and it's definition. It may be less relevant to performative acts so feel free to skip the first paragraph.
The readings this week seemed to build on and in some aspects crystallize some of the ideas from the previous readings. There was a point where it seemed like we were trying to define something that could not be measured. How do you measure the difference between self-expressive, collaborative and representational theatre? With all the intangibles involved in performance theory It seemed obvious why more time seems to be spent studying visual art or written words in primary schools. Visual art has a fossil record of aesthetic changes throughout history that can be traced in lasting (mostly) unchanging artifacts.
However States and Bogart both provide a keener lens to work with. When states describes the shoes within a painting as existing because they are recognized as shoes and are independent of other shoes in the world, it rings similar to the assertion that constructs are real. He makes a bridge between the construct of the shoes in the painting the constructs of gods on stage. Bogart expands this even further using quantum physics among the tools by which performance can be understood. Recalling the famous Schrodinger's cat, she not only offers the possibility that attention is part of and changes performance, but also that Performance and by that extension theatre can be measured with a quantum mindset or one that allows for contradictions to coexist felicitously.
The previous examples help to define Theatre and performance with the intent of creating art.
(Start Here)
After reading Butler's article on performative acts and gender identity I asked if human beings do anything, at least while conscious that is not a performative act. If our identity is defined by the societal demands on who we are and by our acceptance or rejection of those demands, then even the habits we practice alone are performative acts. Can they not? When someone gets dressed in the morning are they engaged in a performative act when they don the clothes. The garments they choose declare multiple identities about gender, race, economic class, and more. But is it a performative act when the person puts on the clothes at home or does it only become a performative act when other people see them wearing the clothes?
The first example of a performative act having its meaning altared that came to mind was from the 1961 Movie West Side Story It's
a performative act within a performance. The performative act happens 1
hour and fourteen minutes in to the move (1:14:00). The Sharks and the
Jets have just negotiated the terms of their rumble and officer Krupke
kicks the Sharks out of the store. As they leave the Sharks whistle the
first line of the song "America" (My country 'tis of thee..). The
Sharks, who are from Puerto Rico have changes the meaning of this tune
because they are being kicked out by a racist police officer and treated
as non-citizens. Even though Puerto Rico is part of the United States
they're being denied their rights in this moment and are ironically
saying "My Country" because it is in the moment very much not their
country. I've remembered this moment form the movie every since I first saw it as child. Growing up in communities that were not very diverse I empathized with what the Sharks felt in this moment.
Right off the bat I started asking the question if the performative act is enclosed within a performance is it still a performative act?
It was interesting trying to find an example of performative acts or utterances specifically, that had been changed to mean something different. I could find many times where it was done with an image or text such as in the sign and box being carried in this image from an Amazon day protest. The sign asking Alexa about family separation is flipping the script on the image of Alexa as part of a happy and comfortable life. The Amazon box has been flipped upside down and had two eyes added above it turning the iconic smile in to a frown.
I wanted to find something more recent than West Side Story That also changed a performative utterance I found a lot of funny videos but had a tough time finding something I felt really worked within definitions we are working with. I think this moment qualifies. In the short film M.A.M.O.N. Mecha-Trump rolls through the border wall holding a flag with Uncle Sam. But the historic slogan has been changed to "I don't want you". Changing the sentence also changes the interpretation of the Uncle Sam Image.
I thought this Public Service Announcement video was worth considering. It depicts adults engaged in harmful actions from smoking to road rage to violence. In each scene there is child right in step performing or mimicking the adults actions, sometimes in perfect unison. Does the meaning of these actions change? Is this a case of performance and performative side by side?
Warning this video includes domestic violence and other images people may find triggering Children See Children Do
