Avant-garde Heritage: Three concepts of ritualism for the performing arts (original) (raw)

What exactly do we mean when, in the contemporary performing arts, the word ritual is pronounced? I argue that, although one main concept of theatrical ritualism is currently activated, the history of twentieth-century theatre offers at least two alternative notions that were less succesful at establishing themselves. The dominant notion may be termed 'hot' ritual, and is chie y inspired by the writings of Antonin Artaud. The rst alternative notion will be termed 'minimalist' ritual (strongly related to the Fluxus movement and happening art), the second 'liturgical.' Conspicuously, the theatrical-liturgical efforts of the interbellum period transmitted no legacy to post-war European theatre.