This later year course explores the ways in which cinemedia (cinematic screen media) can be understood as performance. It addresses a current social need to extend the ways in which we can negotiate representations of the ‘real world’ in highly elaborate virtual environments.

Drawing primarily on Richard Schechner’s work on Performance Studies, the course closely analyses specific examples of screen media and screen events for their performative aspects and thereby develops a framework for addressing their cultural impact. The course will introduce students to the concept of performance and cultural performance and to the way in which performance can be understood as both live and screen-mediated behaviour. Discussions will include the following topics: Brecht’s concept of theatrical gest, realism in film, acting for film, animation, the computer FX world of ‘cybercinema’ and morphing. The course will also address the continually evolving forms and ideas of performance which are emerging from on-line arts practice.

Recommended Texts:
• Carlson, Marvin. Performance: A Critical Introduction, London, New York: Routledge, 1996.
• Naremore, James. Acting in the Cinema, Berkeley, Los Angeles, London: University of California Press, 1988.
• Schechner, Richard, and Appel, Willa. (Eds.), By Means of Performance: Intercultural Studies of Theatre and Ritual, Cambridge, New York, Port Chester, Melbourne, Sydney: Cambridge University Press, 1990.
• Striff, Erin (Ed.), Performance Studies, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003.
• Extra readings and reading lists will be posted on the course’s on-line teaching site during the course.