Communities, Performance and Practice: Enacting Communities

This book explores the challenge of a predominantly negative view of community in critical analysis of community performance practice. It proposes a critical re-signification of community based on philosopher Jean-Luc Nancy's notion of being-in-common, generating questions for feminist geographers and opening new modes of critical analysis.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 201 pages
Publication date: 07 April 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate dynamics of community, exploring the profound challenge posed by a predominantly negative perception of this vital social construct. The concept of community, once seen as a form of class-based solidarity, has been profoundly impacted by postmodernism's questioning of grand narratives and poststructuralism's celebration of diversity. Alongside this critical examination of the notion of community, there has emerged a critical re-signification of community, inspired by the philosophical insights of Jean-Luc Nancy. Nancy conceives of community not as a common entity but as a shared existence, emphasizing the interconnectedness and interdependence of individuals. This re-imagining of community has sparked a series of thought-provoking questions that have been taken up by feminist geographers, such as J.K. Gibson-Graham, in theorizing a post-capitalist approach to community-based development. These questions and approaches serve as guiding frameworks for the in-depth analyses presented in the researched case studies of community performance practice. Furthermore, this book engages in a revisionist exploration of theoretical debates that have shaped the field of community theatre and performance. It poses insightful questions about how the critical re-signification of community aligns with these debates and, at the same time, opens up new avenues for critical analysis of community theatre and performance practice. By delving into these complex issues, this book offers valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of community and its potential for positive transformation.

Weight: 338g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030957568
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022