themperformed

Themperformed is a term used in performance studies and criticism to describe artistic practices in which identity and social relations are produced through collective, participatory enactment rather than through the actions of a single performer. The term blends the pronoun them with performed, underscoring attention to others and to performance as an ongoing, co-created process. It began appearing in online discourse and scholarly writing in the early 2010s, particularly within discussions of participatory and relational aesthetics.

Definition and scope: Themperformed encompasses performances, installations, and digital works that invite audience members to contribute to meaning-making as co-creators. Works described as themperformed typically minimize traditional authorial voice, foreground collaborative authorship, and stage interactions that reveal how identities are formed, performed, and policed in everyday life. The approach is informed by theories of performativity and draws on practices associated with participatory theatre and relational aesthetics.

Applications: The concept is used to analyze theatre, dance, immersive experiences, and online or mixed-reality projects where participants enact roles, negotiate consent, and shape the artwork collectively. Common themes include gender, sexuality, race, migration, disability, and class, with attention to power dynamics and ethical engagement.

Reception: The term is not uniformly defined and remains contested. Proponents view it as a useful lens for examining collective authorship and social critique; critics argue that it can be vague or overextended and may blur lines of authorship and responsibility.

See also: performativity, participatory art, participatory theatre, audience participation, relational aesthetics, social practice art.