Social Performance Studies (in China): Between the Real and the Virtual

Abstract

In traditional theatre studies, the division between performance and research is quite clear. The former refers to the making of theatre; the latter refers to scholarly writings about the former, based on critical analysis, observation, and/or historical contextualization. Over the last 60 years or so, the subjects taken up by theatre researchers have grown from dramatic literature and history to encompass areas such as acting, directing, design, and theatre management — often referred to as the performance aspects of theatre. The term ‘performance studies’ is frequently used to indicate these new areas of inquiry.