Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Reclaim Challenge : Rethinking the Critical Impact of an Education of Performance Art in Denmark

Lebech, Sofie LU ; Schmidt, Cecilie Ullerup and Schultz, Laura Luise (2019) In Nordic Theatre Studies 30(2). p.40-60
Abstract
As the Danish National School of Performing Arts merged nine schools into one institution, the momentum for establishing a national, state-funded education in performance art was missed and the continuation of “traditional” profiles within performing arts education was kept. As such, the future of performance art can be seen as a kind of “supplementary technique” to otherwise acting- and text-based theatre in Denmark.
This article argues, through examinations of three basic aspects of performance art, for the necessity of profiling performance art as a separate, own genre in a Danish educa- tional context. The article does not engage in a mapping of the field of performing arts educations in Denmark or of the different approaches to an... (More)
As the Danish National School of Performing Arts merged nine schools into one institution, the momentum for establishing a national, state-funded education in performance art was missed and the continuation of “traditional” profiles within performing arts education was kept. As such, the future of performance art can be seen as a kind of “supplementary technique” to otherwise acting- and text-based theatre in Denmark.
This article argues, through examinations of three basic aspects of performance art, for the necessity of profiling performance art as a separate, own genre in a Danish educa- tional context. The article does not engage in a mapping of the field of performing arts educations in Denmark or of the different approaches to an educational programme in performance art. Rather, it addresses some of the basic critical figures and approaches in performance art that would challenge the scope of conventional theatre education – and could potentially be a game-changer within Danish performing arts.
Firstly, the performance artist as a figure questioning representation is traced through historical figures of the avant-garde. Secondly, the sociality of performance art is read as confronting and challenging the work ethos of a neoliberal context, where creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship have become imperatives. And finally, the production of performance art is read as a mode of producing knowledge, which challenges the instrumentalization of art as well as a standardization of academic methods.
In conclusion, after the presentation of the three perspectives on performance art, the organization, scope, and potential impact of a Danish education in performance art is presented in a coda. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Performance art education, Bologna Standards, performance artist, performance collectives, research-based performance, embodied criticality, Irit Rogoff, Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven, Das Beckwerk, Madame Nielsen, Jack Smith, Isabell Lorey, Bojana Kunst, Sara Ahmed, Monster Truck, DANSEatelier, cobratheater.cobra, Breakfast Club, ongoing project.
in
Nordic Theatre Studies
volume
30
issue
2
pages
20 pages
publisher
Föreningen Nordiska Teaterforskare
external identifiers
  • scopus:85065522158
ISSN
0904-6380
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f010833a-e9fd-423e-b2b4-549d9457f24e
date added to LUP
2020-02-06 11:29:11
date last changed
2022-05-04 08:11:53
@article{f010833a-e9fd-423e-b2b4-549d9457f24e,
  abstract     = {{As the Danish National School of Performing Arts merged nine schools into one institution, the momentum for establishing a national, state-funded education in performance art was missed and the continuation of “traditional” profiles within performing arts education was kept. As such, the future of performance art can be seen as a kind of “supplementary technique” to otherwise acting- and text-based theatre in Denmark.<br/>This article argues, through examinations of three basic aspects of performance art, for the necessity of profiling performance art as a separate, own genre in a Danish educa- tional context. The article does not engage in a mapping of the field of performing arts educations in Denmark or of the different approaches to an educational programme in performance art. Rather, it addresses some of the basic critical figures and approaches in performance art that would challenge the scope of conventional theatre education – and could potentially be a game-changer within Danish performing arts.<br/>Firstly, the performance artist as a figure questioning representation is traced through historical figures of the avant-garde. Secondly, the sociality of performance art is read as confronting and challenging the work ethos of a neoliberal context, where creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship have become imperatives. And finally, the production of performance art is read as a mode of producing knowledge, which challenges the instrumentalization of art as well as a standardization of academic methods.<br/>In conclusion, after the presentation of the three perspectives on performance art, the organization, scope, and potential impact of a Danish education in performance art is presented in a coda.}},
  author       = {{Lebech, Sofie and Schmidt, Cecilie Ullerup and Schultz, Laura Luise}},
  issn         = {{0904-6380}},
  keywords     = {{Performance art education, Bologna Standards, performance artist, performance collectives, research-based performance, embodied criticality, Irit Rogoff, Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven, Das Beckwerk, Madame Nielsen, Jack Smith, Isabell Lorey, Bojana Kunst, Sara Ahmed, Monster Truck, DANSEatelier, cobratheater.cobra, Breakfast Club, ongoing project.}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{40--60}},
  publisher    = {{Föreningen Nordiska Teaterforskare}},
  series       = {{Nordic Theatre Studies}},
  title        = {{Reclaim Challenge : Rethinking the Critical Impact of an Education of Performance Art in Denmark}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/75901208/ReclaimChallenge_SchultzSchmidtLebech.pdf}},
  volume       = {{30}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}