Richard Schechner

Definition

Richard Schechner is a prominent American performance theorist, director, and writer known for his foundational work in performance studies and his exploration of the intersections between performance, ritual, and culture. His theories have significantly influenced the understanding of performance as a social and cultural phenomenon, emphasizing its role in shaping identity and community.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Schechner's concept of 'restored behavior' refers to the idea that performances can bring back or reinterpret behaviors from everyday life in a staged context.
2. He founded the Performance Studies program at New York University, which has become a leading center for research and education in this field.
3. Schechner is known for his work on environmental theater, emphasizing the importance of the physical space and audience engagement in performance.
4. He has written extensively about the relationship between theater and ritual, arguing that both forms share common features and functions within society.
5. Schechner's book 'Between Theater and Anthropology' explores the connections between performance practices across cultures, highlighting their role in cultural expression and identity formation.

Review Questions

• How did Richard Schechner contribute to the development of performance studies as a distinct academic discipline?
  • Richard Schechner played a crucial role in establishing performance studies as a distinct field by integrating concepts from theater, anthropology, and cultural studies. His emphasis on performance as a means of understanding social behavior and cultural rituals expanded the scope of traditional theater studies. By founding the Performance Studies program at NYU, he created an academic space for interdisciplinary exploration that has influenced scholars and practitioners alike.
• Discuss how Schechner's ideas on 'restored behavior' enhance our understanding of the relationship between performance and everyday life.
  • Schechner's concept of 'restored behavior' illustrates how performances can reflect and reinterpret actions from daily life. This idea suggests that performances are not isolated events but are deeply connected to cultural practices and societal norms. By viewing performance through this lens, we gain insight into how theatrical events can act as mirrors to social behavior, revealing underlying themes about identity, community, and the human experience.
• Evaluate the impact of Richard Schechner's work on contemporary discussions around ritual and performance in cultural contexts.
  • Richard Schechner's work has profoundly impacted contemporary discussions surrounding ritual and performance by highlighting their interconnectedness in cultural contexts. He argues that rituals function similarly to performances by serving to communicate meanings and reinforce social values. By examining various forms of ritualistic expressions through performance theory, Schechner has encouraged scholars to consider how these practices shape cultural identity and collective memory in an increasingly globalized world.

Related terms

Performance Theory:

A field that examines the nature of performance in various contexts, focusing on how performance shapes meaning, identity, and social relationships.

Ritual:

A structured and repetitive set of actions often imbued with symbolic meaning, which can be understood as a form of performance that serves to connect individuals to their cultural heritage.

Site-Specific Performance: A type of performance that is created for and takes place in a specific location, often engaging with the environment and community in unique ways.