I have been torn between wanting to look at the effects of media and technology on live performance and the body, and looking at the female body in relation to sex and feminist theory. Now I am beginning to see that the two are actually (or can be) linked. The main link being that I can situate my body within both and both affect how I make and contextualise my work.
Feminist theory has turned out to be a real passion of mine but I hate talking about it because I find it hard to articulate how I view or use it, however, if I am thinking of working more on feminist theory I guess I should work that out! I find materialist feminist theory is how I understand things, it allows me to be able to decode the construction of performances and look at systems at work in popular culture.
The main problem that I have with feminist theory is that I think a lot of it is outdated. I don't feel like we have really moved away from the 'second sighting of women' when we really should have done. I still like the tenets of the theory and find them useful, but find how they are applied in many cases infuriating. I would really like to be able to take the tenets of material feminist theory and turn it into something more androgynous...if possible!?!
I have been worried that if I move down this route then my theory will take over again. After looking at the handbook I realised that my research has to be reflected in my practical work and now feel a bit restricted. I don't know how to make work that isn't reflected or overtly informed by theory, especially when i have such a passion for it, but don't want my practical work to be as dry as it was.
Maybe I would be better off on the research route rather than the professional practice route? I have been thinking that maybe I am a theorist not a practitioner...I can't seem to see myself as both (as I would like to be).
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