Course detail

Introduction to Performativity of Art

FaVU-1UdPUAcad. year: 2024/2025

The interpretation is organized as an exploration of performativity in the structure of the given thematic headings. It is based on David Davis' seminal books Art as Performance, Erika Fischer-Lichte's Aesthetics of Performativity, Marvin Carlson's Performance and Critical Introduction, and Philip Auslander's Liveness.

 

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

2

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

prof. akad. soch. Tomáš Ruller

Department

Department of Art History and Theory (KTDU)

Entry knowledge

Interest in the subject of performativity. Sufficient language skills to study texts in English.

 

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

A condition for the award of credit is the presentation of a paper (approx. 20 min.) with the use of visual accompaniment, and the submission of a research paper on the assigned topic of approx. 5 standard pages.


A minimum of 50% attendance is required. Any justified lower attendance is compensated in the appropriate proportion by the preparation of additional seminar work submitted during the examination period.

 

Aims

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the so-called performative turn, which has taken place not only in all kinds of art, but also in the humanities and exact sciences and has transformed all areas of human activity from politics to business.

 

Upon completion of the course, students will: 

- be able*to apply basic terminology related to performativity; 

- be able to orient themselves in the broader context of performativity beyond the field of fine arts; 

- know the historical context and basic conceptual background of the performative turn; 

- understand the principles of performativity in artistic creation and their aesthetic implications; 

- be able to present a paper on a selected topic with visual accompaniment.

 

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

AUSLANDER, Philip. Liveness: Performance in Mediatized Culture, Routledge 2008
CARLSON, Marvin. Performance: a critical introduction. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge, 2004. ISBN 978-0415299275.
DAVIES, David. Art as Performance (New Directions in Aesthetics), Blackwell 2008. ISBN 978-1405116671
FISCHER-LICHTE, Erika. Estetika performativity. Na Konári, 2011. ISBN 978-80-904487-2-8
PHELAN, Peggy. The Ontology of Performance. in: Unmarked – The Politics of Performance. Routledge, New York, 1996. ISBN 0-415-06821-5

Recommended reading

ČIHÁKOVÁ-NOSHIRO, Vlasta. Umění akce, katalog výstavy Galerie Mánes, Praha: Mánes, 1991
FISCHER-LICHTE, Erika. The transformative power of performance: a new aesthetics. New York: Routledge, 2008. ISBN 978-0415458566.
GOLDBERG, RoseLee. Performance art: from futurism to the present. 3rd ed. New York: Thames & Hudson, 2011. World of art. ISBN 978-0500204047.
MORGANOVÁ, Pavlína. Akční umění. Olomouc: Votobia, 1999. ISBN 80-7198-351-9.
SLÁDEK, Ondřej, (ed.). Performance / performativita. AV ČR, Praha, 2010. ISBN 978-80-85778-76-2

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme VUM_B Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. akad. soch. Tomáš Ruller

Syllabus

1. What is performance?  

2. Performance of culture (anthropological and ethnographic approaches)

3. Performance in society (sociological and psychological approaches)

4. Performance of language (linguistic approaches)

5. Performance in contemporary theory (after postmodernism)

6. Aesthetics of performativity: materiality  

7. Aesthetics of performativity: co-presence

8. Aesthetics of performativity: the emersion of meaning

9. Aesthetics of performativity: event

10. Aesthetics of performativity: experience

11. Aesthetics of performativity: liveness

12. Art as performance, presentation and representation

 

Seminar

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. akad. soch. Tomáš Ruller