In this study I outline seven characteristics of a traditional Happening (the use of games and play, an inherent intertextual element, an emphasis on place/space, an element/spirit of anarchy, an element of chance, an emphasis on the fusion of art with everyday life, and the existence of both a purpose and a meaning) and seek to determine which characteristics contribute to the Happening's current usage as a rhetorical tool. I created a traditional Happening containing a message of environmental consumption and destruction, and surveyed audience members regarding their interpretation and experience. The survey responses were coded using a top-down narrative analysis. I discovered that intertextuality, place/space, and the fusion of art with everyday life are particularly effective communicators of a message in a socially or politically conscious Happening.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc4679 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Walker, Rebecca Ann |
| Contributors | Taylor, Kelly Shaver, Gossett, John S., Allison, John M., Jr. |
| Publisher | University of North Texas |
| Source Sets | University of North Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | Text |
| Rights | Public, Copyright, Walker, Rebecca Ann, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. |
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