Corporeal Politics: Dancing East Asia

Corporeal Politics explores the development of dance as a meaningful and complex cultural practice across time, focusing on East Asia's intertwining of dance and politics and its role in transcultural interaction and communication. It challenges existing dance and theater histories to re-investigate the performer's role and the impact of their lives and artistic works.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 372 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2020
Publisher: The University of Michigan Press

Corporeal Politics is a groundbreaking book that explores the development of dance as a deeply meaningful and complex cultural practice across time, with a special focus on the intertwining of East Asia dance and politics and the role of dance as a medium of transcultural interaction and communication across borders. Countering common narratives of dance history that emphasize the US and Europe as centers of origin and innovation, the expansive creativity of dance artists in East Asia asserts its importance as a site of critical theorization and reflection on global artistic developments in the performing arts. Through the lens of "corporeal politics"—the close attention to bodily acts in specific cultural contexts—each study in this book challenges existing dance and theater histories to re-investigate the performer's role in devising the politics and aesthetics of their performance, as well as the multidimensional impact of their lives and artistic works. Corporeal Politics addresses a wide range of performance styles and genres, including dances produced for the concert stage, as well as those presented in popular entertainments, private performance spaces, and street protests.

One of the key themes of Corporeal Politics is the role of dance as a means of transcultural interaction and communication across borders. Dance artists in East Asia have long been recognized for their ability to create works that bridge cultural divides and convey messages that transcend language barriers. This is particularly evident in the case of traditional Chinese dance, which has been practiced for thousands of years and has been influenced by a wide range of cultural traditions, including Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Chinese dance is characterized by its graceful movements, intricate costumes, and elaborate choreography, and it has been used to communicate a wide range of emotions, including joy, sorrow, and anger.

In recent years, dance has also become a powerful tool for political activism and social change. Dance artists have used their performances to raise awareness about social issues such as gender inequality, racism, and environmental degradation, and to advocate for change. For example, in the 2011 Arab Spring protests, dance artists in Egypt and Tunisia used their performances to express their opposition to the government and to call for democratic reforms.

However, dance has also faced challenges in the modern world. One of the most significant challenges is the commercialization of dance. Dance has become a lucrative industry, and many dance artists are forced to compromise their artistic integrity in order to make a living. This has led to a decline in the quality of dance performances and has made it difficult for dance artists to express their unique perspectives and ideas.

To address these challenges, Corporeal Politics advocates for a more inclusive and democratic approach to dance. The book argues that dance should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or financial status. It also argues that dance should be treated as a form of art that is worthy of critical analysis and reflection.

One of the ways that Corporeal Politics advocates for a more inclusive and democratic approach to dance is through the use of participatory dance practices. Participatory dance practices involve the participation of the audience in the performance, and they can be used to create a sense of community and to promote social change. For example, in the 2011 Arab Spring protests, dance artists in Egypt and Tunisia used participatory dance practices to engage the audience and to create a sense of solidarity.

Another way that Corporeal Politics advocates for a more inclusive and democratic approach to dance is through the use of interdisciplinary collaboration. Interdisciplinary collaboration involves the collaboration of artists from different disciplines, such as dance, music, and visual art, and it can be used to create new and innovative works that challenge existing cultural norms. For example, in the 2011 Arab Spring protests, dance artists in Egypt and Tunisia collaborated with musicians and visual artists to create a powerful and moving performance that captured the spirit of the protests.

In addition to its theoretical and practical contributions, Corporeal Politics is also a visually stunning book. The book features a wide range of photographs and illustrations that showcase the beauty and diversity of dance across East Asia. These images help to convey the emotional impact of dance and to demonstrate the importance of dance as a form of art.

One of the challenges that Corporeal Politics faces is the fact that dance is a highly subjective and personal form of art. This means that it can be difficult to measure the impact of dance on society. However, Corporeal Politics argues that dance can have a significant impact on society, and that it should be valued and supported.

To address this challenge, Corporeal Politics advocates for the development of dance education programs. Dance education programs can help to teach people about the history and theory of dance, and they can also help to develop the skills of dance artists. By providing access to dance education programs, we can help to ensure that dance continues to be a vital and important part of our society for generations to come.

In conclusion, Corporeal Politics is a groundbreaking book that explores the development of dance as a deeply meaningful and complex cultural practice across time, with a special focus on the intertwining of East Asia dance and politics and the role of dance as a medium of transcultural interaction and communication across borders. Through the lens of "corporeal politics," each study in this book challenges existing dance and theater histories to re-investigate the performer's role in devising the politics and aesthetics of their performance, as well as the multidimensional impact of their lives and artistic works. Corporeal Politics advocates for a more inclusive and democratic approach to dance, and it provides a wealth of theoretical and practical insights that can help to promote the growth and development of dance as a form of art.

Weight: 600g
Dimension: 153 x 228 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780472054558