Performativity of disgust in modern theatre Cover Image

Performatywność wstrętu w teatrze współczesnym
Performativity of disgust in modern theatre

Author(s): Agata Iżykowska-Uszczyk
Subject(s): Philosophy, Aesthetics
Published by: Fundacja „dzień dobry! kolektyw kultury”
Keywords: Ravenhill; Kane; disgust; in-yer-face; performance

Summary/Abstract: The article is an attempt to analyze the performative aesthetic category of disgust. The author of the text uses the examples from dramas of in-yer-face theater. The specificity of this current (accumulation of cruelty, brutality and vulgarity) allows to introduce the category of disgust, which will be discussed at several levels of meaning. Performa-tivity of disgust will be analyzed in the perspective of the issues: carnality, trauma, food, excess and unknown, used in dramas. The text includes an analysis of: "Cleansed", "Blasted" and "Phaedra's Love" by Sarah Kane and "Shopping and Fucking" by Mark Ravenhill. The analysis also shows that the modern theater ceases the possibility to interpret without disgust category. The author proves that, by using the category of disgust, contemporary productions can change the perception of social problems. In addition, the article shows that disgust as a performative category has ability to change the identity of characters presented in dramas. The work also refers to thesis of Winfried Menninghaus and Julia Kristeva.

  • Issue Year: 5/2016
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 83-107
  • Page Count: 25
  • Language: Polish