As we have discussed in class this semester, the performance of verbal artistry or speech play are important moments of language use in which the focus is on evaluating how something is said rather than just what is said. And as particularly memorable moments of communication within a society, performances can tell us a great deal about how language brings culture into being. Performances come in all shapes and sizes and we have looked at a variety of different genres of performance in this course already. In this assignment, you will analyze a performance from a different genre in order to investigate what kinds of cultural beliefs are shared through the performance and how.
First, either watch a video of one of the performances provided on Canvas or choose a different performance of your choice. Note that if you choose your own performance, make sure that speech is a key part of that performance. For example, performances that would be appropriate for this assignment include a live speech of some kind, a poetry reading, a play, a stand-up comedy show, etc. It should not be a scripted performance (like a tv show). And while they are also key means of reinforcing cultural norms, most musical performances or dance performances would be difficult to analyze for this assignment. If you want to do a different type of performance than one of the examples listed above, consult with your instructors before completing the assignment.
Then, write up your analysis based on your observations in 1/2 – 1 page (about 300-500 words). Use the following questions to guide your analysis. You dont have to answer each of the follow-up questions (those are to help you think about your analysis), but you should thoroughly address the 4 major questions that are bolded in your response.
1. What kind of performance is taking place? How do you know? Which keys indicate the genre? (Remember, keys can be verbal and nonverbal.)
2. In what ways does the performer(s) play with language?
1. What kinds of speech play are used? (Think about Jakobsons poetic function of language and how the language used in the performance draws attention back onto the form of the message. Ex: repetition of sounds, words, phrases, intonation patterns, etc.; playing with sound such as onomatopoeia; figurative language; quotation; nonverbal communication; etc.)
2. How does the performer(s) use different languages, styles, dialects, etc. to enhance their performance?
3. What non-verbal forms of communication are used and how?
3. What are the roles of the participants in the performance?
1. If there are multiple performers, how do they each contribute to the performance? Do they perform equally or does one performer lead? How does the structure of participating in the performance contribute to the overall message of the performance?
2. Dont forget that the audience is a participant too! How does the audience in this performance evaluate the display of verbal artistry? What is the effect of their evaluation?
4. How does this performance contribute to shared cultural knowledge, beliefs or values?
1. What kind of shared experiences or commonly-held beliefs does this performance draw on?
2. In drawing on that knowledge, does the performance disrupt or reinforce that existing knowledge? How?
Performances:
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