Theory for Theatre Studies: Memory

Memory has become an important political tool in response to the challenges of modernity, and performance can be used to probe and recuperate aspects of the past. The ethical and political questions that arise when it does so are explored, and the discipline of theatre studies should define and deploy the term "memory" theoretically and in practice.

Format: Hardback
Length: 184 pages
Publication date: 12 November 2020
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The significance of memory has significantly increased in response to the complexities of modernity. Memory has become a crucial political tool in navigating these challenges, as it allows individuals and communities to connect with their past, understand their present, and shape their future.

Performance plays a vital role in probing and recovering aspects of the past. Through various artistic mediums, such as theatre, dance, music, and visual art, performance artists can evoke and explore memories that may have been suppressed or forgotten. This process of excavation and re-presentation can provide valuable insights into historical events, cultural practices, and individual experiences.

However, the use of performance to explore the past raises ethical and political questions. How can performance accurately represent and interpret the past? Who has the authority to tell these stories, and what are the potential consequences of their representation? Moreover, how can performance contribute to the healing and reconciliation of past conflicts?

The discipline of theatre studies must define and deploy the term "memory" theoretically and in practice. Theatre studies can contribute to the understanding of memory by exploring the historical, cultural, and social contexts in which performances are created and consumed. It can also examine the ways in which performance shapes and is shaped by memory, and the ways in which memory is transmitted and transformed through theatrical experiences.

Theory for Theatre Studies: Memory provides a comprehensive introduction to the intersections between contemporary theatre and performance, the field of memory studies, and the politics of memory across the globe. The author offers a critical snapshot of the major theoretical foundations for the study of memory today, presenting vivid theatrical examples drawn from a wide variety of cultural contexts. The book explores how theatre artists have grappled with issues of memory and the tensions between memory and history, featuring in-depth case studies of performance works such as Lola Ariass' Minefield, Yael Ronens' Common Ground, and Robert Lepages' The Seven Streams of the River Ota.

A final section examines the problematics of memory in a global context by exploring the subject of migration/immigration. The book is supported by further online resources, including section overviews and discussion questions, making it an invaluable resource for students, scholars, and practitioners in the fields of theatre, performance, and memory studies.

In conclusion, memory has become a powerful political tool in response to the challenges of modernity. Through the use of performance, individuals and communities can connect with their past, understand their present, and shape their future. However, the ethical and political considerations surrounding the use of performance to explore the past require careful consideration. The discipline of theatre studies must define and deploy the term "memory" theoretically and in practice to contribute to the understanding of memory and its role in shaping our collective memory.

Weight: 298g
Dimension: 134 x 210 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474246651