This book focuses attention on groups of performing people that are unique aesthetic objects, the focus of an artist’s vision, but at the same time a collective being; a singular, whole mass that exists and behaves like an individual entity.
This text explores this unique experience, which is far from rare or special. Indeed, it is pervasive, ubiquitous and has, since the dawn of performance, been with us. Surveying installation art from Vanessa Beecroft & Kanye West, Greek tragedy, back-up dancing groups and even the mass dance of clubbing crowds, this text examines and names this phenomenon: Aesthetic Collectives. Drawing on a range of methods of investigation spanning performance studies, acting theory, studies of atmosphere and affect and sociology it presents an intervention in the literature for something that has long deserved its own attention.
This book will be of great interest to scholars, students and practitioners in performance studies, theatre, live art, sociology (particularly of groups and subcultures), cultural studies and cultural geography.
By:
Andrew Wiskowski
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 156mm,
Weight: 453g
ISBN: 9781032071558
ISBN 10: 1032071559
Series: Routledge Advances in Theatre & Performance Studies
Pages: 238
Publication Date: 29 January 2024
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Primary
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Acknowledgements Introduction — The Aesthetic Collective PART ONE Precis Chapter One: Proximity and Pragnanz — Space, Order, Touch Insides/Outsides, Proxemics and Containment Aesthetic Fields, Collective Domains Proximity and Prägnanz The Discharge Touch — Known, Unknown; Security, Threat Communitas and Affect Transmission Chapter Two: Similarity — Authority and Agency VB16, VB35, VB45, VB46, VB48 Manipulating Agency and Authority Directions/Instructions — Explicit and Implied Chapter Three: Common Fate — Objective, Agency & Essence Choreography and Rhythm Dialogue Rôle/Character Agentic States PART TWO Precis Chapter Four: Character and Contagion Character as Roles and Dramatis Personae Essence and Essentialisation Characterisation, Characterising, Mood Contagion Chapter Five: Mood, Affect, Feeling, Emotion Mood-Making Affective Dimensions Mood Setting/Contagion Chapter Six — Encountering Atmospheres The Encounter Immersion Foam Structures — Atmospheres Conditioning Climate and Human Weather Conclusion Bibliography Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Index
Dr. Andrew Wiskowski is a lecturer and artist in performance, having recently been in the faculty of Creative and Digital Industries at Lambeth College, London Southbank University.
