The Cultural Politics of One-to-One Performance: Strange Duets

This monograph explores the relationship between solo performers and lone spectators, proposing four frameworks for examining the significance and challenge of this work: cathartic, social, explicit, and economic. It will appeal to students and scholars from performance studies, theatre, visual art, and cultural studies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 211 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2022
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

This monograph stands as the pioneering exploration into the realm of performance art crafted specifically for a solitary audience. Despite its prevalence in the performance landscape since the turn of the millennium, critical discourse in this field remains relatively limited. This book endeavors to trace the intricate lineage of the unique relationship between the solo performer and the lone spectator, drawing upon the histories of live art, visual art, and theatrical practices. Through a comprehensive analysis of one-to-one performances by a diverse range of artists, including Marilyn Arsem, Oreet Ashery, Franko B, Rosana Cade, Jess Dobkin, Karen Finley, David Hoyle, Adrian Howells, Kira OReilly, Barbara T Smith, and Julie Tolentino, Rachel Zerihan generates research that is both affective and critical. This performance analysis presents four frameworks for examining the significance and complexities of this work: cathartic, social, explicit, and economic. One-to-one performance is proposed as a fertile ground for delving into the cultural politics of contemporary society, offering a rich portal for exploration. This book is of immense appeal to students and scholars engaged in the fields of performance studies, theatre, visual art, and cultural studies.

Weight: 421g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781137477545
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022