#richardschechner

A restored behaviour is a similar phrase to the word ‘rehearse’. We practice these motions be it: verbal, physical or virtual. These actions are repeated until they are done to the precise and correct manner. For example, a performer is playing a character as well as using a script. He/she will be practicing or repeating lines, movements or timing of cues until their part is done correctly. 

It is usually termed as if the person you are is playing as someone else like an imitation of a character by learning.

This is a book written by Richard Schechner who studied about performance. He formulated that there are eight kinds of performance people engage with:

“In every day life - cooking, socialising, ‘just living’

in the arts

in sports and other popular events

In business

In technology

In sex

In ritual - sacred and secular

In play” (Schechner 2013:31)

This list holds some of the possibilities but they actually categorise on a broad scale. For example, “everyday life” is able to cover most of the scenarios, whereas “the arts” perform their subject materials anywhere with anything etc.

Another idea that Schechner managed to compile is another list which talks about the functions of performance:

“ to entertain

to create beauty

to mark or change identity

to make or foster community

to heal

to teach or persuade

to deal with the sacred and the demonic.” (Schechner 2013:46)

What is Performance?

“Is performance studies a ‘field,’ an ‘area,’ a ‘discipline’? The sidewinder snake moves across the desert floor by contracting and extending itself in a sideways motion. Wherever this beautiful rattlesnake points, it is not going there. Such (in)direction is characteristic of performance studies. This area/field/discipline often plays at what it is not, tricking those who want to fix it, alarming some, amusing others, astounding a few as it side-winds its way across the deserts of academia.”