TAKING IT TO THE STREET:
PERFORMANCE AND POLITICS / THE POLITICS OF PERFORMANCE

Co-taught by Sandy Stone (RTF ACTLab) and Joni Jones (Theater and Dance)
Tue 2-6 in the ACTLab, CMB 4.110

This class is about public performance as method of intervention, education, and change. Through film, video, and text we will study the history, theory and practice of public performance as political action from the Middle Ages to the present day. We will practice actual performance techniques from the standpoint of the special requirements of street performance and with the specific focus of education and representing systems of power. We will spend considerable time outside practicing our skills. Would-be performers, filmmakers, musicians, storytellers, hackers, and risktakers of all kinds are encouraged to apply.

Class is in studio format, with introductory lectures, readings, or film/video material to provide a framing structure for the work. There are no written exams. Instead you will produce a series of performances, either individually or in self-selected groups, that advance your skills and incorporate knowledge you acquire through class exercises and study materials. Your projects will consist of site-specific public performances which may incorporate skills in video, audio, and digital technologies you will learn during the semester.

Take risks! Amaze us! In ACTLab courses we assume a high level of motivation on your part and your willingness to self-start, set your own goals, think independently, collaborate with others, seek help when you need it, and take risks. Let's make it an interesting spring!

Readings and Resources: The syllabus will be available online at the class web site, http://actlab.us/street. All class readings are available on the Resource webpage, http://actlab.us/street/resources.html . Some of the resources are there for you to browse as you feel the urge. Also, remember your best resource is always your own curiosity, and Google or Dogpile or AltaVista are your best tools. Experiment with keywords and see what happens. When you find something interesting, share it, either in person or via the Taking it to the Street mailing list, street@actlab.us .

Mailing list: Outside of class time we keep in touch via the street class mailing list . Use it to swap ideas, ask questions, get and give alerts of schedule changes, share weird urls, and whatever else you can think of. Most of you have already been subscribed to the list, but we didn't have email addresses for a few. Be sure to give us your email address the first day of class.

Equipment: The ACTLab equipment (in cmb 4.110) is there for you to use, play with, and experiment with. A lot of it is state-of-the-art. If youÕre interested in digital-fu, don't waste the opportunity to stretch your creative skills in the digital domain. We have computers, DJ turntables, a mixer, a quadraphonic sound system, and other stuff. We also have some gear that we've never used yet, and we invite you to play with it and see what you can make it do.

Things you'll need:

Loose clothing that you can get dirty and sweaty. If we do narrative or sound work in the dark, remember the ACTLab floor is hard; so if you decide to listen while lying down on the floor, bring something soft to lie on.

Documentation requirement:

In addition to your project you must submit documentation, i.e., a thorough, articulate description, photographic record, and sound files of the project, in web-ready form, so we can link it to the ACTLab web page. Don't slight this step, because a spectacular web page significantly raises your visibility in the professional world of digital-fu. No grade will be issued until your web site is up and you have demonstrated that it's running properly. You have five days after the last class day to fulfill this requirement.

Experienced Labbies say: One of the worst mistakes you can make is to leave the documentation for the last minute! Start thinking about your web site from the very first class day. Keep notes about your ideas for it as well as ways of implementing those ideas using the skills youÕll learn during the semester, so you'll have a good supply of ideas as you build the page.

Grading:

Participation in discussion 25%
Midterm project 15%
Final project 30%
Documentation 30%

Total 100%