Multimedia Performance

The module examines the relationship between performance and audiovisual media through theoretical and practical approaches. The development of technology and digital media has significantly influenced the arts, contemporary theatre, performance, video art, installation art and film. The interaction of audiovisual media with performance as well as the use of the Internet brought about significant changes in the structure, aesthetics, dramaturgy and practices of performance: influencing the action, the narrative, the character/persona, the performance space, and the experience of the audience. The production of new forms of performance led to new ways of working in relation to the body, text, sound, image, narrative, space and redefined the relationship between performance and audience. The investigation focuses on the ways in which technology becomes an integral part of performance, the questions that arise from the interaction of multimedia applications and live performance, and the dramatic strategies that emerge through the creative process producing new narrative structures of space and time.

• Developing critical skills and research methods for analysing and producing multimedia performances
• Understanding the importance of interdisciplinary research in the field of performance
• Familiarity with contemporary methods of creating multimedia performances
• Investigation of questions, meanings and methodologies that arise during the creation of a multimedia performance
• Production of original artistic works that encourage the interaction of live performance with digital art
• Independent practical and theoretical work

1^st Week - Introduction to the basic principles, methods, terminologies and objectives of the module

2^st Week - Modes of experience: intimacy, presence, interaction, immersive performances and audiovisual environments

3^rd Week - Dramatic strategies in the creation of multimedia performances, analysis of examples

4^th Week - Intermediality and live action. Approaches to incorporating audiovisual media into live performance

5^th Week - Analysis of ideas and examples in the use of technology in performance. Generating questions for further research through practice

6^th Week - Practical workshop on combining live action with technology. Research and embodied experience

7^th Week - Approaches to topics, developing research methodologies and exploring resources.

8^th Week - Developing strategies for documenting, researching and analysing proposed themes in multimedia performance

9^th Week - Presentations of work-in-progress. Analysis of objectives, documenting observations and challenges, feedback

10^th Week – Producing material through practice and research. Research questions. Supervision and development of practical work

11^th Week – Producing a written description, artistic statement and video documentation of the process as part of the final project

12^th Week - Discussion and review of the topics presented. Analysis and further guidance of tasks

13^th Week - Presentation of multimedia performances in progress. Questions, directions, feedback

• Auslander, Philip. Liveness: Performance in a Mediatized Culture. London and New York: Routledge, 2008 (2^nd Edition).
• Bay-Cheng, Sarah, Chiel Kattenbelt, Andy Lavender and Robin Nelson, eds. Mapping Intermediality in Performance. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2010.
• Blake, Bill. Theatre & the Digital. London and New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.
• Causey, Matthew. Theatre and Performance in Digital Culture: From Simulation to Embeddedness. New York: Routledge, 2006.
• Kaye, Nick. Multi-Media: Video – Installation - Performance. Abingdon, Oxon and New York: Routledge, 2007.
• Klich Rosemary and Edward Scheer. Multimedia Performance. London and New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.

Online sources

• Blast Theory http://www.blasttheory.co.uk/
• Complicite, http://www.complicite.org/
• Laurie Anderson http://www.laurieanderson.com/
• Robert Lepage/Ex Machina http://lacaserne.net/index2.php/robertlepage/
• The Wooster Group http://thewoostergroup.org/blog/

• Lectures, screenings, study, critical analysis
• Development of methodology for practical work and independent research
• Assignments and presentations during the semester
• Experiential approaches and practical experimentation
• Development of research questions
• Practical and written assignments

Audiovisual technologies, video, sensors, Internet

• Presentations of actions and theoretical approaches in relation to multimedia performance during semester
• Presentation of a multimedia performance under the guidance of the tutor
• Written work including description, analysis and methodology of the practical work