What Is Performance?
A Performance is an event in which performer or group of performers behave in a particular way for another group of people - the audience.
- Theatre
- Dance
- Performance Art
- Live Music
- Events
- Sport
"HOMELAND" LEGS ON THE WALL
One of my favourite examples that Rebecca mentioned in class was show "Homeland" by Legs On The Wall. Performers descend the side of an 80-110m building which is turned into a massive performance space upon which highly skilled performers and huge projected images collide. Performers are "flying" in the air using very strong ropes.
I know something about performing. I know that when it seems like the avalanche is about to roll over you, you face into it and keep both arms swimming as hard as you can. You smile and you sell it.
- Lauren
"Some Girls: My Life in a Harem"
As per Dictionary.com Performance is "a musical, dramatic, or other entrainment presented before an audience" OR/AND "an action or proceeding of an UNUSUAL or spectacular kind". This explains why this example was picked for this lecture. The example itself shows a definition of "performance". It is a show with music, dance, and art (projection, VJ). It is an event, a sport. It is a performance.
I think that this example has a very big and important impact on modern society. It is very dangerous show and performers are highly trained people. Modern youth might want to try and put their "legs on the wall" without following safety rules and this might end up tragically.
But on other hand "Homeland" is a lot better performance for our society than, for example, Miley Cyrus' performance (click HERE to view Miley's performance 2014 on YouTube). This performance clearly has bad influence on modern society. All our youth can learn from this example is "drugs", "sex", new dance called "twerking", etc.
"Homeland" represents healthy life style, sport, fitness, and creativity. Yes, it is, indeed, dangerous practice. But it doesn't mean everyone should go dance on the walls of buildings. This example simply tells you to start live actively.
But on other hand "Homeland" is a lot better performance for our society than, for example, Miley Cyrus' performance (click HERE to view Miley's performance 2014 on YouTube). This performance clearly has bad influence on modern society. All our youth can learn from this example is "drugs", "sex", new dance called "twerking", etc.
"Homeland" represents healthy life style, sport, fitness, and creativity. Yes, it is, indeed, dangerous practice. But it doesn't mean everyone should go dance on the walls of buildings. This example simply tells you to start live actively.
Regarding the fitness craze: America has lost its soul; now it's trying to save its body.
- Carlin
"Brain Droppings"
"Homeland" has tight connection with Dr. Charity Marsh's lecture about Hip-Hop culture. Performance is a dance, and Hip-Hop dance is a performance. Creative idea would be to combine hip-hop dance with "Homeland" show. Nicely dressed hip-hop performers could dance on the wall (with ropes, of course) and this way hip-hop would expand its possibilities.
Hip Hop Generation “captures the collective hopes and nightmares, ambitions and failures of those who would otherwise be described as “post-this” or “post-that.”
- Chain
"Can't Stop Won't Stop A History of Hip-Hop Generation"
LED DRESS
Another example I couldn't forget from this lecture was LED Dress. It is a costume, and costume is part of performance. Dress contains LED wires and ARDUINO chip that controls lights, colours, brightness, etc.
This example was used in class because, again, this dress is a costume, and costumes are part of performance. It describes the word "performance" really well. Many people would probably think of costume first when they hear "performance".
“Like it or not, what we dress in is a direct reflection of who we are personally, socially, and historically.”
- Wilson
"The Girl Who Was On Fire"
Performers use costumes for show or concerts, celebrities use this dress for celebrity meetings and award ceremonies. The purpose is to get audience's attention during performance. For example, artists or singers may not make a great show by dancing or singing. But their costume might the main focus. And only because of costume entire show will probably remain in people's memory for a long time. Imagine Selena Gomez, for example, wearing jeans and a T-shirt during her concert, like everyone else do. Will people even recognize her?
Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.
- Coco Chanel
This example is linked to Dr. Gerhard's lecture Evil Robots. Even thought he was talking about robots and other technology, some of his creative handmade robots has ARDUINO chip. Same chip is installed in LED dress. Its role is to change colours of the lights in dress, blink, or anything else, it all depends on code.
A creative idea would be if Hip-Hop dancers would use LED in their costumes (wide pants or jeans, hat, jewellery, etc). This would be great performance of Hip-Hop dance. This idea would also be strongly connected to Sound Art topic as per sound is a part of performance and Hip-Hop as well. Sound of Hip-Hop would be mostly beats and scratches.
A creative idea would be if Hip-Hop dancers would use LED in their costumes (wide pants or jeans, hat, jewellery, etc). This would be great performance of Hip-Hop dance. This idea would also be strongly connected to Sound Art topic as per sound is a part of performance and Hip-Hop as well. Sound of Hip-Hop would be mostly beats and scratches.
Little Boots' Cyber Cinderella LED Dress YouTube Video
More examples of costumes (Wearable Tech) you can find HERE.