This thesis investigates traumatic affectivity and a complex mesh of artistic strategies in contemporary live art and performance that allow a certain material renegotiation and transformation of social and personal traumatic histories. These strategies are analysed not as means of interpersonal transmission of experience through narrative capture and consolation, but of a transmission of affect, where the sense of affective sharing, of ‘wit(h)nessing’ and ‘transmissibility’ of (traumatic) affect is distinguished from the idea of identification, of mirroring, of emotional identification that in fact subsumes the other to the same, to a life as we can readily articulate and regulate it without needing to acknowledge the violence inherent in such articulations. The thesis also explores how the notion of dramaturgy changes when observed from the perspective of trauma. Dramaturgy is here understood as ‘the text (the weave) of the performance’, where performance is seen to encompass a wide range of artistic practices which involve some element of live or recorded performed action. Such definition of dramaturgy becomes especially significant when this text/weave is marked by a traumatic occurrence, which by definition damages, tears down its integrating fabric. How can we address the difficulty, physically and philosophically, of accessing a destructive event through a creative act? As one possible answer, the thesis proposes the notion of ‘dramaturgies of loss’, of a certain ‘melancholy’ or ‘traumatic’ text as a creative answer to the forces of violence. It argues that an awkward, uncomfortable presence of certain misplaced, ‘emptied’ mimetic forms of contemporary dance and performance can be seen to create a parallel topography that can retroact on accepted notions of culture and render what belongs inside or outside of the cultural sphere indeterminate and thus potentially open to change.

This thesis looks at the ways in which performance can integrate participants and local context into the development of new devised work. This practice-led research is based on a methodology that grew out of three performance case studies completed in diverse international settings with a varied range of participants. The case studies are: Napoli Scorticata completed in 2007 in Naples, Italy; Youth Visions, completed in 2008 in Northeastern Ghana, West Africa; Triangulated City, completed in 2009 in Beirut, Lebanon. Within these diverse contexts the research questions the role of authorship when working in socially engaged practice, focusing on how practitioners can shift the focus from the artist to the body politic. Merging social engagement with a site-responsive approach, the research proposes that the artistic medium is the social system and as such argues that the modes of employment require a focus of appreciation on the generative process, context and product combined. The research is presented in two parts. Part I is an interactive DVD with images of the development process and final presentations as well as a video of each performance work. Part II is a written thesis that explores the modes of engagement, outlines the methods of development and structures a general working methodology that can be referenced by other performance practitioners. The thesis proposes Applied Live Art as a term to describe practices that include a hybrid of time-based media options, which include a social component as their primary focus. The research outcomes conclude with an analysis of place making and its importance when working with both site and society.

Considerando o corpo o elemento central da performance arte, o texto a seguir procura compreender que tipo de espaço se reserva nesse campo artístico para a presença corpórea e o que esta adquire ou perde, quando a imagem deixa de corresponder a um referente físico independente de si, para representar um complexo de processos digitais e analógicos. Este texto tem como premissa o reconhecimento de que a formação do sujeito depende da imagem do corpóreo e, portanto, medita sobre o papel do corpo na produção e na interpretação imagéticas. Inserida em um contexo critico dos desafios pelos quais passa a performance arte através de sua institucionalização - com seus subsequentes processos de hierarquização e estabelecimento de arquivos e documentos - essa pesquisa almeja explorar possíveis efeitos dessa contextura sobre o corpo. Por se desenvolver num formato que considera a escrita como performance, essa dissertação é proposital e excessivamente investida das particularidades e projeções de um corpo específico - o do autor/performer - e baseada nas práticas artísticas concebidas para e em relação com a prática de leitura e de escrita dessa pesquisa de mestrado. Da mesma forma, aqui, o espectador daquelas práticas artísticas - assim como o espectador desse ato performático - é tido como corpo particular no qual a obra de arte ganha seu significado, através da contingência da representação do corpóreo. Por fim, essa pesquisa serve-se de uma discussão sobre o corpo que pretende experienciá-lo ao dele se afastar minimamente, para poder alcançar o que dele não se pode dissociar: a carne / Considering the body as the central element of the discipline of performance art, the following paper seeks to comprehend the nature of the space opened by this artistic disciplino to the corporeal presence in relation to the new condition of the image - when it longer corresponds to a physical referent outside itself, but represents a concatenation of the image, Also, this research aims to critically explore the chalenges inflicted on the body by the institucionalization of performance art through the hierarchical and archiving process of institutional documentation. This dissertation is based on a format that considers writing to be a performace and is thus highly and intentionally invested with the projections and particularities of a specific body - that of this author and performer. Besides, this written research is developed from an in intimate relation to the artistic practices conceivid during the period of two years´s performance acts - as well as, you, the spectator of this performance act - is also seen as particular body - which gives meaning to the artistic object through the contingency of the interpretation of the corporeal representation, Finally this research uses a dicussion about the body - which intends to experience it while minimally distancing oneself from it - in order to reach that part of the body from which it is impossible do disassociate: flesh.

Considerando o corpo o elemento central da performance arte, o texto a seguir procura compreender que tipo de espaço se reserva nesse campo artístico para a presença corpórea e o que esta adquire ou perde, quando a imagem deixa de corresponder a um referente físico independente de si, para representar um complexo de processos digitais e analógicos. Este texto tem como premissa o reconhecimento de que a formação do sujeito depende da imagem do corpóreo e, portanto, medita sobre o papel do corpo na produção e na interpretação imagéticas. Inserida em um contexo critico dos desafios pelos quais passa a performance arte através de sua institucionalização - com seus subsequentes processos de hierarquização e estabelecimento de arquivos e documentos - essa pesquisa almeja explorar possíveis efeitos dessa contextura sobre o corpo. Por se desenvolver num formato que considera a escrita como performance, essa dissertação é proposital e excessivamente investida das particularidades e projeções de um corpo específico - o do autor/performer - e baseada nas práticas artísticas concebidas para e em relação com a prática de leitura e de escrita dessa pesquisa de mestrado. Da mesma forma, aqui, o espectador daquelas práticas artísticas - assim como o espectador desse ato performático - é tido como corpo particular no qual a obra de arte ganha seu significado, através da contingência da representação do corpóreo. Por fim, essa pesquisa serve-se de uma discussão sobre o corpo que pretende experienciá-lo ao dele se afastar minimamente, para poder alcançar o que dele não se pode dissociar: a carne / Considering the body as the central element of the discipline of performance art, the following paper seeks to comprehend the nature of the space opened by this artistic disciplino to the corporeal presence in relation to the new condition of the image - when it longer corresponds to a physical referent outside itself, but represents a concatenation of the image, Also, this research aims to critically explore the chalenges inflicted on the body by the institucionalization of performance art through the hierarchical and archiving process of institutional documentation. This dissertation is based on a format that considers writing to be a performace and is thus highly and intentionally invested with the projections and particularities of a specific body - that of this author and performer. Besides, this written research is developed from an in intimate relation to the artistic practices conceivid during the period of two years´s performance acts - as well as, you, the spectator of this performance act - is also seen as particular body - which gives meaning to the artistic object through the contingency of the interpretation of the corporeal representation, Finally this research uses a dicussion about the body - which intends to experience it while minimally distancing oneself from it - in order to reach that part of the body from which it is impossible do disassociate: flesh.

LIVE ART is a program for students with special needs and students who are typically developed. They work collaboratively, with integrated forms of performance and visual art, culminating in a live performance. LIVE ART sought to use innovative methods of pedagogy, peer support and artistic influence to create a new curriculum where all students, regardless of ability, could grow. Along with this account, this thesis illustrates the experience of one teaching artist and his growth and journey through the program. His personal struggles with previous educational systems are mirrored in the struggles of the students, with their successes leading to his own. The thesis culminates in the revelation of teaching as a necessary mode for his own growth.

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This practice-as-research project (a) invents, examines and self-reflects upon two techniques - 'Whirling in Pain' and 'Neurobreathing' - that the author has developed for dealing with pain in performance, (b) creates a framework for the qualitative analysis of pain retraining techniques by conducting an interdisciplinary study of the parameters that describe Somatic Practices and the psychology of Altered States of Consciousness, (c) establishes a taxonomy and classifications for describing and assessing techniques of pain management in the performing arts, (d) qualitatively assesses the training techniques of three practitioners —Antonin Artaud, Jerzy Grotowski and Marina Abramović—who have used Somatic Practices and Altered States of Consciousness in their techniques, and draws out patterns and themes in their practice, (e) distils generic principles of practice that are essential for training pain perception and could be used by other practitioners for developing their own techniques, or to better embody the techniques that the author has developed. These transferable principles are: reinforcement, exhaustion of pain-processing resources, inquisitive modes towards otherness, embodied knowledge, surrendering, Sisyphean reiteration, and music’s capacity for fascination. This dissertation considers the issue of dealing with pain in performance beyond the limited area of theatre pedagogy, suggesting an interdisciplinary approach and expanding its scope into the wider realms of theoretical discourse around culture and pain. This dissertation argues that since pain is not only a biochemical process but one that is culturally constructed, it is therefore possible to retrain or un-train the perception of pain through the facility of Somatic Practices that induce Altered States of Consciousness. Such retraining of pain perception has wider socio-political ramifications that challenge the pervading modern and neoliberal culture around pain, which understands it only through a reductively biological model and relies heavily on the use of exogenous analgesics to alleviate pain. Finally, this dissertation proposes that dealing with pain is possible not only by transcending and moving attentional focus away from pain, but also by entering a plane of immanence, achieved through working synergistically with pain in order to find the coping mechanisms and hidden reserves that lie dormant within the individual. The practical element of this submission consists of: (a) a Manual for Practitioners that describes the techniques step-by-step, and explains the principles behind them, and, (b) two performance videos that exhibit how the author has used the two techniques to create and manage pain within performances.

This doctoral project combines a performance-led practice with contextual research in order to demonstrate how arts practice can challenge historical perceptions of clay and enhance its material status. The core knowledge deduced from this research is that embodied performance transforms connectivity between artist and clay and produces a unified incarnation of both elements. Through the use of immersive research methods I gained insights which could not have been predicted - particularly that my experiential performances were a process of ‘clay becoming’ in which I ultimately became the clay. In terms of locality, the practice, comprising eight performance-led works and related documentation, focuses on the China Clay and Ball Clay of South West England. Traditionally in the arts, these materials are associated with ceramics, where through heating, clay becomes rigid and fixed. In contrast, my research investigates the textural fluidity and metamorphic potential of these clays in their raw state. The practice encompasses two interrelated groups of work; the In-breath and Out-breath. These terms are significant in three respects. Firstly they define two different modes and moments of practice. Secondly they refer to myself as a living component of these practices. Thirdly they reflect the cultural associations of clay as a metaphor for life. During the initial exploratory ‘In-breath’ phase of my practice, comprising four site-specific pieces, I engaged with clay at sites of historical relevance, building an expansive knowledge of my material. During the later ‘Out-breath’ phase, identification with site was relinquished. These works took place within neutral spaces, allowing the clay to be explored in relation to my body. The introduction of layering, where photographic elements of private clay rituals were situated within the context of a live performance, allowed a texturally dynamic and immersive experience to be created for both artist and viewer. By collecting and preserving clay traces from these live performances (e.g. foot and body prints) additional value was given to the embedded significance of the clay.

[ES] Existe una línea de progresión en el arte contemporáneo de propuestas que parten o abordan la nada o casi nada, que prefieren los apenas, los sutiles, el movimiento mínimo, la inacción o la desaparición. Esta tesis doctoral aborda esa tendencia en las últimas dos décadas en las artes que utilizan el cuerpo y la experiencia para tratar de entender aquello que mueve a sus creadores y creadoras y el lugar que ocupan en el sistema cultural actual. Para ello, el estudio sitúa los trabajos en el contexto en el que se desarrollan, identificando el movimiento, la productividad y la hipervisibilidad como tres de las características definitorias más destacadas de la contemporaneidad. Además, los conecta con la década de los sesenta y conceptos como el de desmaterialización, y los vincula con otra tradición, la del deseo de huida y de autoexclusión en el arte. Por medio de una investigación a través de la práctica artística que aúna proyectos personales, jornadas y exposiciones colectivas en los que se actúa como disparadora, o a través de la participación en proyectos de otros y otras artistas de referencia y grupos de investigación, la indagación ofrece un estudio agrupado alrededor de tres grandes conceptos o actos: el de desaparecer uno o una misma; el de hacer de la desaparición y la inacción el motor, medio u objetivo de la obra; y el de la repetición como forma de hacer de nuevo que las cosas sucedan, poniendo el cuerpo, reescribiendo lo acontecido y abriendo grietas en un futuro que huye de aquel esperable y pautado de antemano. El malestar, la crisis de la presencia o la anomalía como punto de partida, junto con la eficiencia de lo discreto y silencioso propios de ideas orientales o las prácticas que intentan interpelar, ser habitadas, afectar y dejarse afectar, recorren unas páginas de personajes en fuga. Más que ponerse a correr u optar por la confrontación, estos creadores y creadoras prefieren detenerse y retirarse como particular forma de rechazo, acto de habla o posible salida al modo hegemónico de ser y estar. / [CA] Existeix una línia de progressió en l'art contemporani de propostes que parteixen o aborden el no-res o quasi res, que prefereixen els a penes, els subtils, el moviment mínim, la inacció o la desaparició. Aquesta tesi doctoral aborda aqueixa tendència en les últimes dues dècades en les arts que utilitzen el cos i l'experiència per a tractar d'entendre allò que mou als seus creadors i creadores i el lloc que ocupen en el sistema cultural actual. Per a aconseguir aquesta fi, l'estudi situa els treballs en el context en el qual es desenvolupen, identificant el moviment, la productivitat i l'híper-visibilitat com tres de les característiques definitòries més destacades de la contemporaneïtat. A més, els connecta amb la dècada dels seixanta i conceptes com el de desmaterialització, i els vincula amb una altra tradició, la del desig de fugida i d'autoexclusió en l'art. Per mitjà d'una investigació a través de la pràctica artística que uneix projectes personals, jornades i exposicions col·lectives en les quals s'actua com disparador, o a través de la participació en projectes d'altres artistes de referència i grups d'investigació, la indagació ofereix un estudi agrupat al voltant de tres grans conceptes o actes: el de desaparéixer un o una mateixa; el de fer de la desaparició i la inacció el motor, mitjà o objectiu de l'obra; i el de la repetició com a manera de fer de nou que les coses succeïsquen, posant el cos, reescrivint l'esdevingut i obrint escletxes en un futur que fuig d'aquell esperable i pautat prèviament. El malestar, la crisi de la presència o l'anomalia com a punt de partida, juntament amb l'eficiència del discret i silenciós, propis d'idees orientals, o les pràctiques que intenten interpel·lar, ser habitades, afectar i deixar-se afectar, recorren unes pàgines de personatges en fuga. Més que posar-se a córrer o optar per la confrontació, aquests creadors i creadores prefereixen aturar-se i retirar-se com a particular forma de rebuig, acte de parla o possible eixida a la manera hegemònica de ser i estar. / [EN] There is a line of progression in contemporary art in which proposals begin or go through nothingness or almost nothing, preferring the few, the subtle, the minimal movement, the non-action, or the disappearance. This doctoral thesis deals with the art trend of the last two decades which uses the body and the experience to attempt to understand what moves its creators and the place this tendency and these artists occupy in the current cultural system. To this end, this study places works in their context, identifying movement, productivity, and hypervisibility as three of the most prominent defining features of contemporaneity. Furthermore, this dissertation connects these works to the sixties and concepts such as dematerialization as well as links them to another tradition related to the desire to escape and of self-exclusion in art. Through art practice-based research which combines personal projects, events, and group exhibitions, in which the researcher acts as a trigger, or through the participation in projects by reference artists and research groups, this inquiry offers a study gathered around three main concepts or acts: disappearing oneself; making disappearance and non-action the starter engine, the medium, or the objective of the work; and considering repetition as a way of making things happen again, using the body, rewriting what happened and opening gaps in a future which flees from what one expected and established in advance. The malaise, the crisis of the presence, or deviation are the starting points. Along with that, the effectiveness of the discreet and the silent, which are characteristic of oriental ideas, or the practices which try to challenge, to be inhabited, to move and to be moved run through pages with characters on the run. Rather than running from or opting for confrontation, these creators prefer to stop and withdraw themselves as a particular form of rejection, speech act, or a possible exit from the hegemonic way of being and to be. / Martí Prades, O. (2021). Acción mínima y pulsión de reducción en propuestas performativas contemporáneas: estudio práctico en tres actos [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/166440 / TESIS

To explore documenting practices in detail that use the time-based medium of film to engage with performance art’s negotiation of duration and disappearance, this article addresses Stuart Brisley’s and Ken McMullen’s 16 mm film “Being and Doing”. “Being and Doing” is an experimental, highly subjective documentation of live art practices of the late 1970s and early 1980s in Eastern and Western Europe. The film’s highly concentrated and rhythmically elaborate montage assembles photographs, sound recordings, footage of communal rituals, and artists’ performances with a voice-over narration by Brisley. Starting from a detailed analysis of particular montage sequences the article elaborates on the inventive aesthetics of “Being and Doing” as a conjunction of body art practices and a process-oriented mode of documentation, which is concerned with the frame as the essential constituent of film form.