Cancer in Performance: An Affective Encounter
This essay delves into the portrayal of the “unpresentable” in contemporary performances centered around cancer, probing how such artistic endeavors defy conventional aesthetic paradigms. I anchor my analysis on the mixed-media dance piece Still/Here (Iowa 1994) by the renowned American experimental...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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School of English, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Ex-centric Narratives: Journal of Anglophone Literature, Culture and Media |
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| Online Access: | https://ejournals.lib.auth.gr/ExCentric/article/view/9637 |
| _version_ | 1797202579920257024 |
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| author | Vinia Dakari |
| author_facet | Vinia Dakari |
| author_sort | Vinia Dakari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This essay delves into the portrayal of the “unpresentable” in contemporary performances centered around cancer, probing how such artistic endeavors defy conventional aesthetic paradigms. I anchor my analysis on the mixed-media dance piece Still/Here (Iowa 1994) by the renowned American experimental choreographer Bill T. Jones. My perspective is enriched by Jean F. Lyotard’s interpretation of the Kantian sublime in postmodern art, contemporary performance theories, art criticism, and personal reflections from cancer-related performances I have experienced. I compare two performances for illustrative purposes: the British musical theater performance A Pacifist’s Guide to the War on Cancer (B. Kimmings, B. Lobel, T. Parkinson, 2016) and the Greek documentary-theater performance In Spite of Everything (Georgia Mavragani and the Hellenic Cancer Society, 2018). Both draw inspiration from genuine cancer narratives and incorporate a blend of professional and amateur artists. Ultimately, my investigation seeks to trace the progression of the representation of cancer in performance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T08:05:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-07e9ae8357d74cc683caf3fa0aa1e589 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2585-3538 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T08:05:41Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | School of English, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ex-centric Narratives: Journal of Anglophone Literature, Culture and Media |
| spelling | doaj.art-07e9ae8357d74cc683caf3fa0aa1e5892024-04-17T11:00:43ZengSchool of English, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GreeceEx-centric Narratives: Journal of Anglophone Literature, Culture and Media2585-35382023-12-010719821110.26262/exna.v0i7.96378357Cancer in Performance: An Affective EncounterVinia DakariThis essay delves into the portrayal of the “unpresentable” in contemporary performances centered around cancer, probing how such artistic endeavors defy conventional aesthetic paradigms. I anchor my analysis on the mixed-media dance piece Still/Here (Iowa 1994) by the renowned American experimental choreographer Bill T. Jones. My perspective is enriched by Jean F. Lyotard’s interpretation of the Kantian sublime in postmodern art, contemporary performance theories, art criticism, and personal reflections from cancer-related performances I have experienced. I compare two performances for illustrative purposes: the British musical theater performance A Pacifist’s Guide to the War on Cancer (B. Kimmings, B. Lobel, T. Parkinson, 2016) and the Greek documentary-theater performance In Spite of Everything (Georgia Mavragani and the Hellenic Cancer Society, 2018). Both draw inspiration from genuine cancer narratives and incorporate a blend of professional and amateur artists. Ultimately, my investigation seeks to trace the progression of the representation of cancer in performance.https://ejournals.lib.auth.gr/ExCentric/article/view/9637canceraestheticssublimeunpresentablemedical performancearts and medicineaffective criticism literature |
| spellingShingle | Vinia Dakari Cancer in Performance: An Affective Encounter Ex-centric Narratives: Journal of Anglophone Literature, Culture and Media cancer aesthetics sublime unpresentable medical performance arts and medicine affective criticism literature |
| title | Cancer in Performance: An Affective Encounter |
| title_full | Cancer in Performance: An Affective Encounter |
| title_fullStr | Cancer in Performance: An Affective Encounter |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cancer in Performance: An Affective Encounter |
| title_short | Cancer in Performance: An Affective Encounter |
| title_sort | cancer in performance an affective encounter |
| topic | cancer aesthetics sublime unpresentable medical performance arts and medicine affective criticism literature |
| url | https://ejournals.lib.auth.gr/ExCentric/article/view/9637 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT viniadakari cancerinperformanceanaffectiveencounter |