Performance Project

Due: April 30th

As I said before, while much of performance art is about challenging the audience, please do not do anything illegal or that would scare the general public (particularly if it’s related to COVID–19 as this is illegal in some states). If you are planning on doing something that fools the audience (like anything on the Eric Andre, Andy Kauffman, the Yes Men, etc.) Please let me know ahead of time.

As you saw in the video what is now considered the performing arts and performance art started to become their own thing during World War One. In some ways, performance art is more defined by what it isn’t (traditional dance, singing or other stage show) than what it is. One of the main aspects of it has always been the importance of an audience watching while the performance plays out something very difficult to do in this time of social distancing. For your final project you have one of three options:

Option 1 a live performance during critique

With this option, you will be performing your piece live via zoom for the rest of the group. The piece should be 1 to 3 minutes in length and you should make sure you try to rehearse at least once before the day of the performance.

Option 2 a taped performance

This will be similar to option 1 (1–3 minutes) but will be prerecorded by you in 1 take. If you choose to do this I want you to have at least one person watching you (from a safe distance) as you perform, It should be done in one take and the concentration should be on what you’re doing and less on the framing, etc. that we studied with our video project. Please make sure you upload this to me before the beginning of class at 8 am Pacific time on April 30th.

Option 3 a score to be performed

I know that for some of you the two above options may not be possible if that is the case please read some of the Fluxus scores provided in The Fluxus Workbook, available to download here, and come up with 3 to 5 written scores to with instructions to be performed. Please keep in mind that in most Fluxus performances chance is a large factor so make space for that and the audience. Make sure to include some suggestions for where this would be performed, items needed, etc.

As always please let me know if you have any questions. I’d also like you to fill out the performance proposal before class next Tuesday (it’s OK to change your idea but let me know if you do).