Performing Arts and Digital Humanities: From Traces to Data

Digital traces, whether digitized or born digital, pose a significant challenge for the memory of ephemeral performing arts. This book explores methodologies for writing theater history, analyzing works, and preserving performances, considering digital traces that are often dismissed. It is intended for researchers, archivists, artists, and cultural institutions.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 22 October 2021
Publisher: ISTE Ltd

Digital traces, whether digitized (programs, notebooks, drawings, etc.) or born digital (emails, websites, video recordings, etc.), pose a significant challenge to the preservation of ephemeral performing arts. The transformation of traces into data through digital technology enables manipulation, altering the nature of these traces and necessitating a reevaluation of methodologies for writing theater history, analyzing works, and preserving performances. At the intersection of performing arts studies, history, digital humanities, conservation, and archiving, these methodologies enable us to consider what is often overlooked: digital traces that are deemed too complex, numerous, fragile, or of questionable authenticity.

This book aims to address this gap by examining the digital traces of Merce Cunningham, a pioneering figure in contemporary dance, as a guiding example. Through a comprehensive analysis of various case studies, this book seeks to provide researchers, archivists, artists, and cultural institutions with valuable insights and practical tools for understanding and preserving the rich tapestry of digital traces in the performing arts.

In the digital age, where performances are captured and disseminated through various digital platforms, the preservation of these traces becomes crucial. Digital traces encompass a wide range of materials, including stage designs, costumes, lighting arrangements, sound recordings, and video recordings. These traces hold immense value for researchers, archivists, and artists as they provide insights into the creative process, historical context, and cultural significance of performances.

However, the preservation of digital traces faces numerous challenges. First and foremost, the sheer volume of digital data can be overwhelming, making it difficult to manage and organize. Moreover, the nature of digital data is inherently fragile, susceptible to damage, loss, and obsolescence. Digital formats also change rapidly, rendering existing preservation techniques obsolete within a short period.

To address these challenges, researchers and archivists have developed innovative methodologies and tools. One such approach is the use of digital preservation standards and protocols, such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC). These standards provide guidelines for the preservation of digital objects, including the selection of appropriate formats, the creation of metadata, and the establishment of long-term storage solutions.

Another important aspect of digital preservation is the creation of digital archives. Digital archives are designed to store and manage digital objects over time, ensuring their accessibility and preservation for future generations. Digital archives can be centralized or distributed, and they can include a wide range of materials, such as images, videos, audio recordings, and interactive multimedia.

In addition to preservation, digital technologies also offer new opportunities for the analysis and interpretation of performing arts. Digital humanities, a multidisciplinary field that combines the study of human culture with digital technologies, enables researchers to explore and analyze performing arts in new and innovative ways. Digital humanities techniques include text analysis, data visualization, and computational modeling, which can provide insights into the structure, themes, and cultural significance of performances.

Furthermore, digital technologies enable the creation of new forms of preservation and dissemination. For example, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies can create immersive experiences that allow viewers to revisit and experience performances in new and innovative ways. These technologies can also be used to preserve and archive performances for future generations, ensuring that they are accessible and preserved for posterity.

In conclusion, digital traces constitute a major challenge for the preservation of ephemeral performing arts. The transformation of traces into data through digital technology enables manipulation and raises concerns about the authenticity and integrity of these traces. However, by adopting innovative methodologies and tools, researchers, archivists, artists, and cultural institutions can preserve and analyze digital traces, ensuring that the rich legacy of performing arts is preserved for future generations.

Weight: 494g
Dimension: 245 x 164 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781786307057