Animal Acts: Performing Species Today

Chaudhuri, Una; Hughes, Holly

doi:doi:10.3998/mpub.5633302

Animal Acts: Performing Species Today

Edited by Una Chaudhuri and Holly Hughes 2014

OPEN ACCESS

We all have an animal story—the pet we loved, the wild animal that captured our childhood imagination, the deer the neighbor hit while driving. While scientific breakthroughs in animal cognition, the effects of global climate change and dwindling animal habitats, and the exploding interdisciplinary field of animal studies have complicated things, such stories remain a part of how we tell the story of being human. Animal Acts collects eleven exciting, provocative, and moving stories by solo performers, accompanied by commentary that places the works in a broader context.

Work by leading theater artists Holly Hughes, Rachel Rosenthal, Deke Weaver, Carmelita Tropicana, and others joins commentary by major scholars including Donna Haraway, Jane Desmond, Jill Dolan, and Nigel Rothfels. Una Chaudhuri's introduction provides a vital foundation for understanding and appreciating the intersection of animal studies and performance. The anthology foregrounds questions of race, gender, sexuality, class, nation, and other issues central to the human project within the discourse of the "post human," and will appeal to readers interested in solo performance, animal studies, gender studies, performance studies, and environmental studies.

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Critical Performances

ISBN(s)

978-0-472-02953-2 (ebook)
978-0-472-05199-1 (paper)
978-0-472-90110-4 (open access)
978-0-472-07199-9 (hardcover)

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Filtering by: Content Performance Exclusivity Exclusive to Fulcrum Keyword animals Year 2013

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This video contains excerpts from the performance Everything I've Got, written, directed, and performed by Jess Dobkin. Performances were staged at the University of Michigan's Duderstadt Media Center, March 21-23, 2013.

Everything I've Got [excerpt]

From Excerpt from Everything I’ve Got by Jess Dobkin, Commentary by Jill Dolan: The Great Refusal and the Greater Hope

Written, directed, and performed by Jess Dobkin [excerpt from the full performance]. Everything I've Got is included in the anthology Animal Acts: Performing Species Now, edited by Una Chaudhuri and Holly Hughes and published by University of Michigan Press. Performances staged at the University of Michigan's Duderstadt Media Center, March 21-23, 2013.

This video contains excerpts from the performance The Dog and Pony Show (Bring Your Own Pony), written and performed by Holly Hughes and directed by Dan Hurlin. Performances were staged at the University of Michigan's Duderstadt Media Center, March 21-23, 2013.

The Dog and Pony Show (Bring Your Own Pony) [excerpt]

From The Dog and Pony Show (bring your own pony) by Holly Hughes, Commentary by Donna Haraway: Agility Is Performance Art

Written and performed by Holly Hughes; directed by Dan Hurlin [excerpt from the full performance]. The Dog and Pony Show (Bring Your Own Pony) is included in the anthology, Animal Acts: Performing Species Now, edited by Una Chaudhuri and Holly Hughes and published by University of Michigan Press. Performances staged at the University of Michigan's Duderstadt Media Center, March 21-23, 2013.

Cat Lady

From Cat Lady by Joseph Keckler, Commentary by Erika Rundle: Theatre of the Cat Lady Who Is Not

Written, directed, and performed by Joseph Keckler. Cat Lady is included in the anthology, Animal Acts: Performing Species Now, edited by Una Chaudhuri and Holly Hughes and published by University of Michigan Press. Performances staged at the University of Michigan's Duderstadt Media Center, March 21-23, 2013.

This video contains excerpts from the performance Horseback Views: A Queer Hippological Performance, written and performed by by Kim Marra and directed by Meredith Alexander. Performances staged at the University of Michigan's Duderstadt Media Center, March 21-23, 2013.

Horseback Views: A Queer Hippological Performance [excerpt]

From Horseback Views: A Queer Hippological Performance by Kim Marra, Commentary by Jane C. Desmond: Kinesthetic Intimacies

Written and performed by by Kim Marra; directed by Meredith Alexander [excerpt from the full performance]. Horseback Views: A Queer Hippological Performance is included in the anthology, Animal Acts: Performing Species Now, edited by Una Chaudhuri and Holly Hughes and published by University of Michigan Press. Performances staged at the University of Michigan's Duderstadt Media Center, March 21-23, 2013.

This video contains excerpts from the performance No Bees For Bridgeport, written, directed, and performed by Kestutis Nakas. Performances staged at the University of Michigan's Duderstadt Media Center, March 21-23, 2013.

No Bees For Bridgeport [excerpt]

From No Bees for Bridgeport: A Fable from the Age of Daley by Kestutis Nakas, Commentary by Joshua Takano Chambers-Letson: A New Fable of the Bees

Written, directed, and performed by Kestutis Nakas [excerpt from the full performance]. No Bees For Bridgeport is included in the anthology, Animal Acts: Performing Species Now, edited by Una Chaudhuri and Holly Hughes and published by University of Michigan Press. Performances staged at the University of Michigan's Duderstadt Media Center, March 21-23, 2013.

This video contains excerpts from With What Ass Does the Cockroach Sit? / Con Que Culo Se Sienta la Cucaracha?, written and performed by Carmelita Tropicana and directed by David Schweizer. Performances staged at the University of Michigan's Duderstadt Media Center, March 21-23, 2013.

With What Ass Does the Cockroach Sit? / Con Que Culo Se Sienta la Cucaracha? [excerpt]

From With What Ass Does the Cockroach Sit? / ¿Con Qué Culo Se Sienta la Cucaracha? by Carmelita Tropicana (aka Alina Troyano), Commentary by Lawrence La Fountain-Stokes: Martina, Catalina, Elián, and the Old Man: Queer Tales of a Transnational Cuban Cockroach

Written and performed by Carmelita Tropicana; directed by David Schweizer [excerpt from the full performance]. With What Ass Does the Cockroach Sit? / Con Que Culo Se Sienta la Cucaracha? is included in the anthology, Animal Acts: Performing Species Now, edited by Una Chaudhuri and Holly Hughes and published by University of Michigan Press. Performances staged at the University of Michigan's Duderstadt Media Center, March 21-23, 2013.

This video contains excerpts from MONKEY, written, directed, and performed by Deke Weaver with Jennifer Allen. Performances staged at the University of Michigan's Duderstadt Media Center, March 21-23, 2013.

MONKEY [excerpt]

From MONKEY by Deke Weaver, Commentary by Cary Wolfe: Apes like Us

Written, directed, and performed by Deke Weaver with Jennifer Allen [excerpt from the full performance]. MONKEY is included in the anthology, Animal Acts: Performing Species Now, edited by Una Chaudhuri and Holly Hughes and published by University of Michigan Press. Performances staged at the University of Michigan's Duderstadt Media Center, March 21-23, 2013.

Animal Acts: Performing Species Today

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Everything I've Got [excerpt]

The Dog and Pony Show (Bring Your Own Pony) [excerpt]

Cat Lady

Horseback Views: A Queer Hippological Performance [excerpt]

No Bees For Bridgeport [excerpt]

With What Ass Does the Cockroach Sit? / Con Que Culo Se Sienta la Cucaracha? [excerpt]

MONKEY [excerpt]