Richard Schechner's Introduction to Performance Studies Course

Editorial Take

Richard Schechner’s 'Introduction to Performance Studies' offers a rare opportunity to learn from one of the field’s most influential thinkers. Designed for curious minds, it provides a sweeping, interdisciplinary survey of performance as a lens for understanding human behavior and culture.

Standout Strengths

• Foundational Authority: Richard Schechner’s pioneering role in performance studies lends unparalleled credibility and depth. His insights reflect decades of scholarship and global fieldwork, offering learners direct access to a key architect of the discipline.
• Global Scope: The course spans continents and eras, from African ritual to Caribbean carnival and digital activism. This breadth fosters a truly international understanding of performance beyond Western theatrical traditions.
• Conceptual Clarity: Complex ideas like 'performativity' and 'restored behavior' are broken down with precision. Learners gain tools to analyze everything from political speeches to social media posts as performance.
• Historical Range: From paleolithic cave art to YouTube, the course traces performance’s evolution. This timeline approach helps contextualize modern expressions within deep human history.
• Interdisciplinary Approach: Blending theatre, anthropology, sociology, and media studies, the course models how performance studies bridges academic silos. This makes it valuable across humanities and social sciences.
• Relevance to Contemporary Life: The module on digital performance examines memes, livestreams, and online identity. It makes abstract theory tangible by linking it to everyday internet experiences.

Honest Limitations

• Abstract Over Practical: While conceptually rich, the course lacks hands-on projects or performance creation. Learners seeking to build artistic skills may find it too theoretical and detached from practice.
• Uneven Depth: Some topics, like avant-garde theatre, receive more attention than others. The broad scope means certain regions or forms are covered briefly, risking superficial treatment.
• Passive Learning Format: As a lecture-driven course, engagement is limited. Without discussion forums or peer feedback, learners must self-motivate to reflect deeply on the material.
• Outdated Examples: Some case studies feel dated, especially in digital media. More recent phenomena like TikTok or deepfake performances are not addressed, limiting contemporary relevance.

How to Get the Most Out of It

• Study cadence: Dedicate 3–4 hours weekly to lectures and readings. Spread sessions across the week to absorb complex ideas and revisit key concepts.
• Parallel project: Keep a 'performance journal'—document everyday acts (commuting, meetings) as performances. This reinforces theoretical learning through personal observation.
• Note-taking: Use mind maps to connect concepts like ritual, play, and performativity. Visualizing relationships strengthens retention of abstract frameworks.
• Community: Join Coursera discussion boards or form a study group. Sharing interpretations of performance examples deepens understanding through dialogue.
• Practice: Apply concepts to real-world events—analyze a political debate or social media trend using course frameworks. This builds analytical fluency.
• Consistency: Stick to a weekly schedule. The course builds cumulatively, and falling behind reduces the impact of later, more complex modules.

Supplementary Resources

• Book: Read Schechner’s 'Performance Theory' to go deeper into his ideas. It complements the course with more detailed case studies and theoretical development.
• Tool: Use 'Padlet' or 'Miro' to create collaborative boards analyzing global performances. Visual collaboration enhances engagement with diverse cultural examples.
• Follow-up: Enroll in NYU’s 'Global Theatre' or 'Digital Media and Society' courses to extend learning. These build on performance studies with focused lenses.
• Reference: Explore the 'Journal of Performance Studies' for academic articles. It provides ongoing scholarly discourse to continue post-course exploration.

Common Pitfalls

• Pitfall: Treating performance only as theatre. Many learners overlook how the course redefines performance broadly—correct this by applying concepts to non-artistic social behaviors.
• Pitfall: Expecting skill-based training. This is a theoretical course. Avoid frustration by adjusting expectations toward critical analysis rather than performance technique.
• Pitfall: Skipping readings. The lectures assume familiarity with key texts. Without supplemental reading, learners may miss nuanced arguments and historical context.

Time & Money ROI

• Time: The 10-week commitment is reasonable for the depth offered. However, self-paced learners may rush—aim for steady engagement to maximize insight.
• Cost-to-value: At a premium price, value depends on interest level. For humanities students, it's worthwhile. For casual learners, the cost may outweigh benefits.
• Certificate: The credential holds academic weight but limited job market value. It’s best used to demonstrate interdisciplinary curiosity on resumes or applications.
• Alternative: Free resources like MIT OpenCourseWare offer similar themes. However, Schechner’s direct instruction justifies the fee for dedicated learners.

Editorial Verdict

This course stands as a thoughtful, intellectually stimulating introduction to a field that reshapes how we see human expression. While not designed for skill acquisition, it excels in expanding worldviews and fostering critical analysis of cultural practices. Learners gain a powerful lens to interpret rituals, politics, and digital life—not just as observers, but as participants in ongoing performances. The structure is logical, the content vast, and the perspective uniquely informed by Schechner’s lifetime of scholarship.

That said, it’s not for everyone. Those seeking hands-on creative training or immediate career applications may find it too abstract. The lack of interactivity and dated digital examples are real drawbacks. Yet, for students in humanities, education, or cultural studies, this course offers rare conceptual depth and global awareness. With supplemental reading and active reflection, it can be transformative. We recommend it selectively—primarily to intellectually curious learners ready to engage deeply with theory and culture.