Theories of Performance

by Elizabeth Bell

Theories of Performance invites students to explore the possibilities of performance for creating, knowing, and staking claims to the world. Each chapter surveys, explains, and illustrates classic, modern, and postmodern theories that answer the questions, "What is performance?" "Why do people perform?" and "How does performance constitute our social and political worlds?" The chapters feature performance as the entry point for understanding texts, drama, culture, social roles, identity, resistance, and technologies.

320 pages, Paperback

First published February 11, 2008

Reviews

[Jer Lesperance · Rating 3 out of 5]

the only textbook i have ever read from front to back. interesting author voice for an academic reading and some interesting ideas but at times bloated, pretentious, and made me roll my eyes. ugly cover lol. also some super outdated thoughts on queer theory that didn’t sit well with me.

[Hayley Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty dense book. But for a book on performance theories it is pretty enjoyable!

[Iriho Lyda]

I THINK THIS BOOK WILL HELP ME MUCH