ABSTRACT

The field of literary studies has long recognised the centrality of psychoanalysis as a method for looking at texts in a new way. But rarely has the relationship between psychoanalysis and performance been mapped out, either in terms of analysing the nature of performance itself, or in terms of making sense of specific performance-related activities. In this volume some of the most distinguished thinkers in the field make this exciting new connection and offer original perspectives on a wide variety of topics, including: · hypnotism and hysteria · ventriloquism and the body · dance and sublimation · the unconscious and the rehearsal process · melancholia and the uncanny · cloning and theatrical mimesis · censorship and activist performance · theatre and social memory. The arguments advanced here are based on the dual principle that psychoanalysis can provide a productive framework for understanding the work of performance, and that performance itself can help to investigate the problematic of identity.

chapter |5 pages

INTRODUCTION

Umbilical connections

chapter |13 pages

Beyond blind Oedipus

part |2 pages

SECTION A Thinking through theatre

chapter 1|13 pages

Rehearsing the impossible

The insane root

chapter 2|13 pages

As if

Blocking the Cartesian Stage

chapter 3|13 pages

Scanning sublimation

The digital Pôles of performance and psychoanalysis

chapter 4|13 pages

Now and then

Psychotherapy and the rehearsal process

part |2 pages

Section BPARALLELPERFORMANCES

chapter |7 pages

Bloodless surgery

chapter |3 pages

No time like the present

chapter |21 pages

6HELLODOLLYWELLHELLODOLLY

The double and its theatre

chapter |17 pages

7WRITINGHOME

Post-modern melancholia and the uncanny space of living-room theatre

chapter |15 pages

8THEWRITER ’ SBLOCK

Performance, play and the responsibilities of analysis

chapter |1 pages

9THEPLACEBOOFPERFORMANCE

Psychoanalysis in its place

chapter |15 pages

Installation

chapter |4 pages

Notes

part |2 pages

Section CHISTORY, MEMORY, TRAUMA

chapter 10|8 pages

FREUD , FUTURISM , ANDPOLLYDICK

chapter 11|15 pages

( LAUGHTER )

chapter 12|1 pages

SPEAKWHITENESS

Staging ‘race’, performing responsibility

chapter |10 pages

Locality and responsibility

chapter 13|3 pages

THEUPSILONPROJECT

A post-tragic testimonial The emerAgency

chapter |2 pages

The personal sacred

chapter |1 pages

The safety patrol

chapter |4 pages

The Me-morial

chapter |5 pages

Warumverbot

chapter 14|19 pages

STAGINGSOCIALMEMORY

Yuyachkani