Problems of Viewing Performance: Epistemology and Other Minds

The Problems of Viewing Performance challenges long-held assumptions about the shared experience of viewing performance and argues that it is an intersubjective experience. It explains how audiences come to each performance with different amounts and types of knowledge, which are modified by other viewers and justified beliefs. This makes knowledge surrounding a performance intersubjective, and the book explores how audiences work. It is an important resource for theatre and performance students, scholars, and practitioners.

Format: Hardback
Length: 132 pages
Publication date: 16 March 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Inc

The traditional notion of viewing performance as a shared experience is challenged by The Problems of Viewing Performance, which delves into the complex dynamics of how knowledge is received by multiple audience members. This groundbreaking work breaks new ground by asserting that viewing performance is not a uniform or communal experience but rather a subjective and individualized one.

Viewers bring their unique perspectives, backgrounds, and levels of knowledge to each performance, shaping their assumptions and interpretations of the unfolding events. These assumptions are not static and are often influenced by other viewers, both during the performance and in the aftermath. Through the process of superimposing the experiences and justified beliefs of multiple viewers, knowledge of performance becomes more accurate and nuanced.

The intersubjectivity of the viewing experience highlights the fact that there is no single "correct" interpretation of a performance. Different audience members may have different takeaways, and their interpretations can be influenced by a range of factors, including personal biases, cultural backgrounds, and prior experiences. This diversity of viewpoints adds to the richness and complexity of the viewing experience, allowing for multiple interpretations and meanings to be generated.

The Problems of Viewing Performance explores the various factors that contribute to these differences in viewing experiences. It examines the role of audience expectations, the influence of performance context, and the impact of individual spectatorship. The book also discusses the challenges that performers face in creating works that are accessible and engaging to diverse audiences, and the strategies that they employ to navigate these complexities.

In conclusion, The Problems of Viewing Performance is a seminal work that challenges long-held assumptions about spectatorship and offers a fresh perspective on the complex dynamics of viewing performance. It is essential reading for theatre and performance students, scholars, and practitioners, as it provides valuable insights into the ways in which audiences work and the diverse ways in which they interpret and experience performance.

Weight: 378g
Dimension: 160 x 242 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780815348474