Performing Care: New Perspectives on Socially Engaged Performance

This edited collection explores the intersection of theatre and performance with care ethics, care studies, health, and social care, challenging traditional perspectives on the caring encounter and interrogating the boundaries between care practice and performance. It examines a range of care performances from diverse international settings to understand how performance can be understood as caring or uncaring, careless or careful, and how care can be conceptualized as artful, aesthetic, authentic, or staged.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 26 July 2022
Publisher: Manchester University Press

This edited collection brings together a diverse range of essays that explore the intricate relationship between theatre and performance and the fields of care ethics, care studies, health, and social care. By delving into the realm of performance as a mode of care, the book challenges existing debates and reimagines the caring encounter as a profoundly embodied and enacted experience. It questions the boundaries between care practice and performance, shedding light on how performance can be understood as both caring and uncaring, careless or careful. Through an examination of a wide array of diverse care performances sourced from interdisciplinary and international contexts, the book interrogates how performance might be perceived as artful, aesthetic, authentic, or even staged.

The first essay in the collection, titled "Theatre and the Care Encounter," explores the ways in which theatre can be used as a tool for facilitating care encounters. The author argues that theatre offers a unique platform for exploring the complexities of care, including the power dynamics, emotional boundaries, and ethical dilemmas that arise in the caregiving process. By employing theatrical techniques such as improvisation, role-play, and storytelling, the author suggests that theatre can create a safe and supportive space for individuals to explore their feelings, needs, and experiences related to care.

The second essay, titled "Performance as Caring or Uncaring," examines the ways in which performance can be interpreted as either caring or uncaring. The author argues that care is not a fixed or universal concept, but rather a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that can be expressed in a variety of ways. Through an analysis of different care performances, the author explores how performance can be used to challenge dominant narratives of care and promote alternative perspectives on caregiving.

The third essay, titled "Care as Artful or Aesthetic: Theorizing the Relationship between Performance and Care," explores the ways in which care can be conceptualized as an art form. The author argues that care is not just about meeting physical needs, but also about creating meaningful connections and experiences that enhance the well-being of individuals. By drawing on theories of aesthetics and art, the author suggests that care can be understood as a form of artistic expression that requires attention, intention, and skill.

The fourth essay, titled "Authenticity and Care in Performance," examines the concept of authenticity in care performances. The author argues that authenticity is not a fixed or universal concept, but rather a dynamic and contextual phenomenon that can be shaped by a range of factors, including cultural norms, personal experiences, and social contexts. Through an analysis of different care performances, the author explores how authenticity can be both celebrated and challenged in caregiving.

The fifth essay, titled "Staging Care: The Politics of Performance," examines the political implications of care performances. The author argues that care performances can be used as a tool for promoting social change and challenging dominant power structures. By exploring the ways in which care performances can be staged and performed, the author suggests that care can be used as a means of subverting dominant narratives and promoting alternative visions of care.

The final essay, titled "Conclusion: Towards an Interdisciplinary Dialogue," reflects on the contributions of the collection and highlights the need for further interdisciplinary dialogue between theatre and performance and the fields of care ethics, care studies, health, and social care. The author argues that by working together, these fields can create a more comprehensive understanding of the complexities of care and develop new strategies for promoting care and well-being.

In conclusion, this edited collection offers a rich and nuanced exploration of the relationship between theatre and performance and the fields of care ethics, care studies, health, and social care. By challenging existing debates and reimagining the caring encounter as a profoundly embodied and enacted experience, the book contributes to our understanding of performance as a mode of care. Through an examination of a wide range of diverse care performances, the book interrogates how performance might be understood as caring or uncaring, careless or careful, and correlatively how care can be conceptualized as artful, aesthetic, authentic, or even staged. By working together, these fields can create a more comprehensive understanding of the complexities of care and develop new strategies for promoting care and well-being.

Weight: 432g
Dimension: 156 x 233 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526163967