This paper answers two questions about contemporary dance and its relation to the body and mind.
Dance studies emerged in the 1980s as a reaction against dance history. Many scholars critically questioned the ‘master narrative’ of Modernism that is often advanced in dance history. The essay "The Ballerina’s Phallic Pointe" by Susan Leigh Foster can be seen as a good example of this critique. How does Foster react against the dominant conceptualization of contemporary ballet?
Secondly the essay answers the question, why temporality is an important concept in both queer and crip theory. It explains both theories and their differences. Furthermore, it answers the question, whether crip temporality can be an interesting concept to analyse disability dance. To illustrate results the essay analyses Daniel Linehan's "Body of Work" in relation to crip time.
Table of Contents
1. Dance Studies as a Reaction against Dance History
2. Temporality as a concept in queer in crip theory
Objectives & Key Topics
This work explores the intersections of gender, temporality, and the physical body within contemporary dance, utilizing feminist and queer/crip theoretical frameworks to analyze how dance challenges normative historical narratives and traditional conceptions of time.
- The historical evolution of ballet and its gendered structures.
- Feminist critiques of the "male gaze" and power dynamics in dance.
- The conceptualization of "crip time" and its relevance to bodily experience.
- Analysis of contemporary performance through the lens of fragmentation and introspection.
Excerpt from the book
Temporality as a concept in queer in crip theory
The queer and crip communities experience temporality differently from able bodied cis straight people. From this insight arose the question of how to talk about time in a new way. As for queer people, the differences start in childhood. They “lack” the expected attraction to the opposite sex or the “right” gender expression. The response is confusion, fear and adaption to the norm. Many queer people discover their identity later in live, meaning they do not get the chance to built the expected family by the age a cis hetero person would – given the LGBT+ person wants that in the first place and is able to do so in their home country. Additionally, the job market is harder on queer people. Overall, this leads to a “delay” in the normative assumptions about life. An additional problem is the fact that many queer people do not desire what society presents as normality. A life with one monogamous partner and children is either not desirable or not available to them.
For disabled people, temporality is rather unpredictable than slower. For example, anyone can become disabled at any moment in their life, altering their entire perception of time. Time as a whole is often unpredictable for disabled people because of obstacles such as difficulties in public transport, but even the condition of pain or mobility can vary day by day.
Summary of Chapters
Dance Studies as a Reaction against Dance History: This chapter examines the gendered development of classical ballet and utilizes Susan Leigh Foster's critique to analyze how the "male gaze" and phallic symbolism have historically shaped the roles of dancers.
Temporality as a concept in queer in crip theory: This chapter introduces "crip time" as a framework to challenge normative, linear perceptions of progress and dependency, applying these concepts to Daniel Linehan’s performance piece Body of Work.
Keywords
Contemporary Dance, Dance Studies, Gender Roles, Ballet History, Susan Leigh Foster, Male Gaze, Crip Theory, Queer Theory, Temporality, Crip Time, Daniel Linehan, Body Memory, Performance Art, Feminist Perspective, Disability Arts
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this work?
The work explores how dance reflects and challenges societal norms regarding gender, the body, and the perception of time through historical and theoretical lenses.
What are the central themes discussed in the text?
The text focuses on the evolution of ballet, the construction of gendered bodies in performance, the feminist critique of historical dance narratives, and the application of queer and crip theories to contemporary dance.
What is the primary objective of this research?
The primary objective is to analyze how contemporary dance can be re-interpreted using alternative temporal frameworks like "crip time" and how performance can subvert traditional, normative structures of the body.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The work employs a qualitative analysis of dance theory, drawing on feminist, queer, and crip theoretical frameworks to conduct a close reading of dance history and specific performance practices.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the historical transition of ballet, the gender dynamics of the "male gaze," the definition of non-normative temporal experiences in queer and disabled communities, and an analysis of Daniel Linehan's performance piece.
Which keywords best characterize this publication?
Key terms include Contemporary Dance, Dance Studies, Gender Roles, Crip Time, Queer Theory, and The Male Gaze.
How does the author define "crip time" in the context of this dance study?
The author defines it as a non-linear, unpredictable approach to time that moves away from the mandatory developmental milestones of an "able-bodied" life, focusing instead on fragmented, realistic bodily experiences.
In what way does Daniel Linehan’s "Body of Work" serve as a case study?
Linehan’s piece is used as a practical application of "crip time," showing how an artist can use his own body and memories to represent the passing of time and the connection between the past and the present.
How does the text re-evaluate the "ballerina" in modern ballet?
By applying a feminist lens, the author suggests that while the ballerina is traditionally positioned as an object, contemporary interpretation can offer her empowerment through a shift in how the audience perceives her role and gaze.
- Citation du texte
- Carolin Will (Auteur), 2020, Contemporary Dance and Dance Studies. Temporality as a Concept in Queer and Crip Theory, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/923367
