Performance Studies provides an opportunity to inhabit a place where the making of artistic and cultural meaning intersects with critical reflection on those processes. The cluster has as its primary goal the bringing together of those students and faculty engaged in the creative arts, i.e., studio art, creative writing, dance, film and video, music, and theater with those departments that reflect in part on those activities, e.g., Anthropology and Sociology, Art History, Classics, foreign languages, English, History, Literary Studies, Music, Philosophy, Psychology, Religion and Theater. The cluster allows faculty and students to conduct intensive and focussed interdisciplinary studies in performance.
Voluntary portfolios are entirely optional.
What we suggest is that portfolios should draw on at least four projects or productions. They should show critical self-reflection on the creative processes, comparison of the artistic media employed and also demonstrate performance criticism on the work of others. Preparation of the portfolio should normally begin in the second semester of the junior year. It will be done under the supervision of a member of the advisory committee and will be presented in the senior year to faculty and students interested in the cluster.