Theater, Film and Media

The course adopts an interdisciplinary perspective, bridging Performance Studies and Anthropology, and introduces the foundations of theatre anthropology as a field of study. In addition to critically addressing the historical theoretical approaches, the course will focus on more recent developments, offering methodologies for reading and interpreting the performative phenomenon. During the lectures, several case studies of contemporary performance practices, both European and non-European, will be collectively examined. In particular, the course will focus on the slippery and controversial relationship between theatre, anthropology, and Africa, highlighting colonial influences, exoticism, folklorizations, and the asymmetries of both historical and contemporary perspectives. From this perspective, the course aims to provide the critical tools for a decolonial approach to theatre and performance studies. Therefore, in addition to offering a thorough examination of Western interpretative frameworks specific to the field of study, it will adopt a non-Eurocentric perspective in analysing the critical pairing of Anthropology and Theatre. Finally, part of the lectures will be dedicated to investigating the enduring colonial legacy present in contemporary theatre criticism and its lexicon.

There are no requirements for this course.

Mandatory. Non-attending students will be provided with a dedicated bibliography.

The oral examination covers the topics addressed during the course. Evaluation is based on detailed and in-depth knowledge of the syllabus, critical thinking skills, and initiative for personal exploration.

Brook, P. (1987). The Shifting Point (any edition) Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o (1986). Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature. London. Ruffini, R. (2020) Le Afriche di Peter Brook, Linea ed. Schechner, R. (1988). Performance Theory (any edition) Soyinka, W. (1973). The Bacchae of Euripides: A Communion Rite. (any edition). A selection of essays and articles, available in open-access format or copy, will be provided during the course. Students may choose from these options independently, based on their interests and current language proficiency (some texts are in French). Additional optional readings will also be provided at the beginning of the course.

Lectures. Analysis of performances and audiovisual material. Discussions and collective analysis of case studies. Meetings with performers and researchers.