The past decade has seen an extraordinarily intense period of experimentation with computer technology within the performing arts. Digital media has been increasingly incorporated into live theater and dance; and new forms of interactive performance have emerged in participatory installations; on CD-ROM; and on the Web. In Digital Performance; Steve Dixon traces the evolution of these practices; presents detailed accounts of key practitioners and performances; and analyzes the theoretical; artistic; and technological contexts of this form of new media art. Dixon finds precursors to todays digital performances in past forms of theatrical technology that range from the deus ex machina of classical Greek drama to Wagners Gesamtkunstwerk (concept of the total artwork); and draws parallels between contemporary work and the theories and practices of Constructivism; Dada; Surrealism; Expressionism; Futurism; and multimedia pioneers of the twentieth century. For a theoretical perspective on digital performance; Dixon draws on the work of Philip Auslander; Walter Benjamin; Roland Barthes; Jean Baudrillard; and others. To document and analyze contemporary digital performance practice; Dixon considers changes in the representation of the body; space; and time. He considers virtual bodies; avatars; and digital doubles; as well as performances by artists including Stelarc; Robert Lepage; Merce Cunningham; Laurie Anderson; Blast Theory; and Eduardo Kac. He investigates new medias novel approaches to creating theatrical spectacle; including virtual reality and robot performance work; telematic performances in which remote locations are linked in real time; Webcams; and online drama communities; and considers the "extratemporal" illusion created by some technological theater works. Finally; he defines categories of interactivity; from navigational to participatory and collaborative. Dixon challenges dominant theoretical approaches to digital performance -- including what he calls postmodernisms denial of the new -- and offers a series of boldly original arguments in their place.
#3214154 in eBooks 2014-07-03 2014-07-03File Name: B00LER209C
Review
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Told From the British PerspectiveBy GlorkI wish I had known beforehand that this book was organized from a British perspective. Not that there is anything wrong with that; mind you; and; "Swinging London"; was the place to be in the 60s. But I would have preferred a book written by an American author; so that it concentrated more on the fads; trends; music; and other pop culture of the 60s. For example; having pages dedicated to soccer teams or rugby is just not of interest to me.
