- "Happening" describes different performances in the 50's and 60's created by Allan Kaprow (author of article) and others which urged viewers to deconstruct the barriers btw. the audience and the creators.
- Is the audience only there to observe? Or do they have a responsibility?
- Kaprow's group, all painters, all came from American painter backgrounds
- Performances are seemingly goal-less, they "go nowhere," they are not structured, they are "open-ended and fluid" (85).
- Differences btw. "happenings" and other theatre: context - lofts, basements, nature = no distinction btw. audience and performance. "Happenings" disregard the "proper" and get down to the natural, organicity of art. plot - there's no plot line in a "happening," and you never know what will occur next. There is no "sense" in the traditional meaning. chance ("risk"/"fear," "willingness to fail" 86) is very important to "happenings," something that is not usually present in most theatrical performances. reproduction is not doable with "happenings" - performances cannot be recreated in their original form.
- Leading artists are praised too often instead of being left to explore or use their resources = creativity dies = they reach fame
Monday, October 6, 2008
06. "Happenings" in the New York Scene by Allan Kaprow, 1993.
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1 comment:
Good notes!
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