Performanso meno laukas: konceptualizavimo nesklandumai
The Field of Performance Art: Difficulties of Conceptualization

Summary/Abstract: The artistic field faces some difficulties in conceptualizing performance art. The definitions of “performance” and “performativity” are widely used in different arts, but these concepts have also become an important part of sociological, philosophical and other social sciences and humanities discourse. However, there exist distinctions in the usage of these concepts in different academic traditions and even different languages. Because of the polysemantic nature of the concept of performance, differences and similarities in the definitions of performance, performativity, performance art could also be clearly articulated. The article argues that during the last decade performance art is returned to public cultural discourse. Every year several performance art festivals take place in Lithuania, and many young Lithuanian artists study performance art abroad and participate in educational workshops. Despite all of this, both artists and researchers encounter difficulties and uncertainties in conceptualizing performance art. A pilot study conducted by the author of this article to explain preliminary reasons of these difficulties and uncertainties demonstrates that performance art and the position of performance artists are problematic with regard to other artistic fields in Lithuania.

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