Performance studies is a growing field of academic study focusing on the critical analysis of performance and performativity. The field or post-discipline engages performance as both an object of study and as a method of analysis. Examining events as performance provides insight into how we perform ourselves and our lives. And understanding the performative nature of speech-acts introduces an element of reflexivity and critique to otherwise descriptive accounts of social phenomena. Performativity (Callon 1998) is a concept in economic sociology, specifically those in the constructionist camp, that challenges the assertions made by structuralist camp (Granovetter 1985). ... This article lacks information on the importance of the subject matter. ... In mathematics, a binary relation R over a set X is reflexive if for all a in X, a is related to itself. ... In the humanities and social sciences, critical theory has two quite different meanings with different origins and histories, one originating in social theory and the other in literary criticism. ...

Performance Studies as an academic field has multiple origin narratives. One account stresses the research collaborations of director Richard Schechner and anthropologist Victor Turner. This origin narrative emphasizes a definition of performance as being "between theatre and anthropology" and often stresses the importance of intercultural performances as an alternative to either traditional proscenium theatre or traditional anthropological fieldwork. Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett has contributed an interest in tourist productions and ethnographic showmanship to the field, and Diana Taylor has brought a hemispheric perspective on Latin American performance, and has also theorized the relationship between the archive and the performance repertoire. Richard Schechner is the founder of the Performance Studies department of New York University (NYU). ... Victor W. Turner (May 28, 1920 - 1983) was a renowned anthropologist. ... Cross-cultural communication looks at how people, from differing cultural backgrounds, endeavor to communicate. ... For other uses of the word Archive, see Archive (disambiguation) Archives refers to a collection of records, and also refers to the location in which these records are kept. ...

An alternative origin narrative stresses the development of speech-act theory by philosophers J.L. Austin and Judith Butler and literary critic Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick. Performance studies has also had a strong relationship to the fields of feminism, psychoanalysis, and queer theory. Theorists like Peggy Phelan, Butler, Sedgwick, José Esteban Muñoz, and Rebecca Schneider have been equally influential in both performance studies and these related fields. John Langshaw Austin (March 28, 1911 - February 8, 1960) was a philosopher of language, who developed much of the current theory of speech acts. ... John Langshaw Austin (March 28, 1911 - February 8, 1960) was a philosopher of language, who developed much of the current theory of speech acts. ... Image:J Butler. ... Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick (b. ... Feminism is a diverse collection of social theories, political movements, and moral philosophies, largely motivated by or concerning the experiences of women. ... This article is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Queer theory is an anti-essentialist theory about sex and gender (and often other aspects of identity, especially race) within the larger field of Queer studies. ... José Esteban Muñoz (born 1967) is an American theorist in the fields of Performance Studies, visual culture, queer theory, cultural studies, and critical theory. ...

Performance studies incorporates theories of drama, dance, art, anthropology, philosophy, cultural studies and sociology. More can be found out by reading Schechner's book: Performance Studies: An Introduction. The first performance studies department was created at NYU. But, there is some debate that the joint-cradles of Performance Studies are Northwestern University and NYU. In the United States, the field has spread to Brown, U-C Berkeley, and elsewhere. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into theatre. ... For other uses, see Dance (disambiguation). ... Venus de Milo exhibited in the Louvre museum, France. ... Anthropology (from the Greek word άνθρωπος, human or person) consists of the study of humanity (see genus Homo). ... Philosopher in Meditation (detail), by Rembrandt. ... Cultural studies combines sociology, social theory, literary theory, film/video studies, cultural anthropology and art history/criticism to study cultural phenomena in industrial societies. ... Social interactions of people and their consequences are the subject of sociology studies. ... New York University (NYU) is a major research university in New York City. ...

In Australia, the Queensland University of Technology offers a degree majoring in performance studies, and also a masters and Phd in performance innovation.

Performance studies has a long-standing and complex relationship to the practice of performance art, also known as live art, also known as visual art performance. Performance art is art where the actions of an individual or a group at a particular place and in a particular time, constitute the work. ...

Some key companies and practitioners who are widely considered to be working within this field include: Robert Lepage Ariane Mnouchkine and the Theatre du Soleil Robert Wilson Forced Entertainment (UK) Pina Bauch The Wooster Group (New York) Anne Bogart and The Siti Company (New York)

Performance Studies in some countries is also an A-level (AS and A2) course consisting of the integration of the discrete art forms of Dance, Music and Drama in performing arts.