Involuntary Motion - The Somatics of Refugee Performance

Involuntary Motion contributes to the study of refugee flight by using movement as a lens to explore problems in refugee performance and understand the experience of bodies in motion.

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Drawing from somatics, movement analysis, and dance praxis, the chapters explore forces that set bodies in motion; the spaces in which forced movement occurs; the movement of refugee identity arcs; the monstrosity of refugee performance; and the relationship between writing and body culture. How does forced movement impact identity? What are the philosophical implications of robbing individuals of agency over motion? What performances does involuntary motion necessitate? These questions are important as the world confronts the threat of a return of the horrors of the twentieth century.

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Bringing together debates in migration studies and movement studies, the book argues that refugees are akin to dancers performing on disappearing stages not of their choosing. It will be of great interest to students and scholars of performance, dance, and politics.

List of contents

Introduction  1. Movement Initiation-Dance and Refugee Performance  2. Space, Time, and Energy-Revisiting Arendt: Spaces of Disappearance  3. Trace Forms-The Non-Hero's Journey  4. Effort/Shape-Monstrosity and Refugee Bodies (Undocumented Zombies and Sea Creature)s  5. Bodies and Writing-Snap Judgement: Two Photographs of Writing on Immigrant Bodies  Epilogue: Is Stillness (still) a Right?

About the author

Jeff Kaplan is Assistant Professor of Dance & Theatre at Manhattanville College, USA.

Summary

Involuntary Motion contributes to the study of refugee flight by using movement as a lens to explore problems in refugee performance and understand the experience of bodies in motion. It will be of great interest to students and scholars of performance, dance and politics.

Product details

• Authors: Jeff Kaplan
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.10.2020
• EAN: 9780367490041
• ISBN: 978-0-367-49004-1
• No. of pages: 142
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Art > Theatre, ballet; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; Dance, History, Cultural Studies, European History, POLITICAL SCIENCE / General, The arts: general issues, ART / General, PERFORMING ARTS / General, ART / European, PERFORMING ARTS / Theater / General, ART / Art & Politics, PERFORMING ARTS / Theater / History & Criticism, ART / Performance, PERFORMING ARTS / Dance / General, PERFORMING ARTS / Dance / History & Criticism, PERFORMING ARTS / Dance / Popular, Theatre Studies, Politics & government, British & Irish history, Politics and government, Political campaigning & advertising, Performance Art, Political campaigning and advertising, The arts: general topics