170744 UE Ecological Performance (2026S)

In the last decades, artists have used their medium to draw attention to their surroundings, especially in the wake of climate change and more recent environmental disruptions. This course explores artistic practices that intersect with ecological narratives drawing attention to the different approaches artists take in their work. Ecological performance is a growing field with a developing vocabulary and methodology that will be discussed in this course through the use of different genealogies and critical perspectives to debate the meanings and influence of concepts such as "environment", "nature", "ecology", "landscape" and how these critical views are embodied in performances. The course will delve into the different aims of ecological performance, whether that be to educate the audience about environmental concerns, or to examine ecological ideologies through stories, or through visual imagery. Key topics from environmental humanities, indigenous studies and ecocriticality will be discussed to inspire students to think through the role of theatre and performance within our ecological crisis.

This course aims to equip students with an understanding of the definitions from the vast approaches artists take to the environmental crisis.
It seeks to debate critical approaches to climate change.
Establish ecocritical understandings within an interdisciplinary and global perspective.
Identify the contributions indigenous studies and indigenous worldviews have to ecocritical perspectives by familiarising the students with indigenous plays and practices.

The course will be a combination of lectures and more interactive seminars. The course will begin with lectures that summarise the main views on ecological art and performance followed by examples of ecoperformances that identify various approaches. Readings will be assigned in advance of the blocked course. Short readings will be assigned and read in groups during course time and debated in seminar sessions that will provide students the opportunity to discuss different points of view and understand the nuances of the debates in the emerging field.