“Isn’t every artist essentially starting from nothing, no matter what they might have presented to theater directors or financiers? Isn’t the meaning of a work always discovered, to some extent, by its creator during the process of making it?” (Roslyn Sulcas).

These are just some of the questions about the making, style, process, logistics, methods, and systems makers employ that we will investigate. We will watch examples of the work of leading movement/performance artists of the 21st century who are currently working in the scene and then discuss, write, and analyze. This will be followed by scheduled conversations with guest artists who will join us in person.

Throughout the course, we will examine how the artists talk and write about their own work and compare it to how they are being perceived and presented. Individual and collaborative research during the term will form part of each analysis with a final presentation at the end of the course.