What is performance art and how does it relate to other forms of art? How does it relate to other forms of cultural and political expression? What makes something a performance? What makes something performative? When, how, and why have artists taken up performance as art?

In these sessions, we will explore several traditions of performance art as they relate to political histories, and dominant art movements of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. We will consider the craft of performance and look at the methods and materials that artists working in performance use. We will also read a sampling of critical and historical literature on performance art. After a whirlwind look at histories, methods and criticisms, we will try our own hands/minds/voices/bodies at the practice.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS CLASS
1. Histories of performance art
2. Performance artists and their practices
3. Critical perspectives on performance art


• Participants must have a valid Fleisher membership.