Taasesitusse

Taasesitusse is a term used in Finnish-language discussions of performance studies, media studies, and cultural memory to describe the re-presentation or re-staging of a cultural artifact for contemporary audiences. It refers to practices that keep some elements of the original while shifting others through new contexts, technologies, or interpretive angles. The concept highlights the ongoing dialogue between past works and their present reception, rather than a simple copy or direct remake.

Etymology and origin: The term is formed from taas-, meaning again, and esitys, meaning presentation or performance, with a productive suffix that forms a noun. It has emerged as a relatively recent addition to scholarly and critical vocabularies, gaining use in discussions about how classics, historical events, and familiar narratives are reintroduced to new audiences.

Context and usage: Taasesitusse is applied across domains such as theatre revivals, film remakes, and curated exhibitions that re-present historical works. It is used to analyze how contextual changes—technological mediations, updated social norms, or new interpretive frames—affect perception, authorship, and authenticity. The emphasis is on the relationship between the original artifact and its current presentation, including how memory and reception are shaped.

Relation to other concepts: The term overlaps with adaptation, remaking, and reenactment but is distinguished by its focus on the interpretive act of re-presentation as a cultural memory practice. Critics sometimes argue that taasesitusse can be broad or vague, while proponents see it as a useful umbrella for examining how culture circulates across time.

See also: adaptation, remaking, re-staging, remix, cultural memory.