performancethe
Performancethe is a term used in certain strands of performance studies to describe a theoretical approach that treats performance as both a method and a site of knowledge production. It foregrounds how acts of performing—whether on stage, in ritual, in sports, or through digital media—generate meaning through embodied practice, situational temporality, spatial relations, and audience interaction. Proponents view performancethe as a lens for analyzing how knowledge is created, circulated, and challenged within performed events.
Origins and scope. The term emerged in late 20th and early 21st century scholarly circles seeking to
Key concepts. Central ideas include embodiment and sensorial engagement, the material infrastructure of performance (objects, spaces,
Methods and applications. Researchers employing performancethe may use close textual and perceptual analysis, ethnographic observation, reflexive
Critique. Some scholars caution that the term can be vague or overlapping with existing performance theory,