The Magic of Presence

Moments, Memories, Methods

Authors

  • Willmar Sauter

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7146/nts.v34i2.141659

Keywords:

presence, parameters of presence, aesthetic experience, Robert Wilson, A Dream Play

Abstract

Every habitual visitor remembers some magic moments of theatrical events: a striking feeling of immediate presence. What are these experiences of presence about? What triggers them, under which circumstances do they take place? This text is an attempt to point out some decisive parameters that facilitate strong experiences of performative situations. On the basis of a new rhombic model, I will show how these parameters coordinate the senses of the beholder and create magic moments of presence. Then, presence remains as future memories of the past.

References

Deldime, Roger and Pigeon, Jeanne. 2012. Des spectacles et des artistes. Tendances actuelles du théâtre jeunes publics. Bruxelles: Lansman.

Hong, Jay-Ung. 2003. Creating Theatrical Dreams. A Taoist Approach to Molander’s, Bergman’s and Wilson’s Productions of Strindberg’s A Dream Play. Stockholm: Stockholm University.

Sauter, Willmar. 2021a. Aesthetics of Presence: Philosophical and Practical Reconsiderations. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Sauter, Willmar. 2021b. “Immersion”. In Shirin M. Rai, Milija Gluhovic, Silvija Jestrovic, Michael Saward (eds.). Oxford Handbook of Politics and Performance. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 363-76.

Skjoldager-Nielsen, Kim. 2021. “Aesthetics and Dramaturgies of Immersive and Interactive Theatre Since the Turn of the Millennium: SIGNA – Poste Restante – Sisters Hope”. Nordic Theatre Studies, 33(1), 24–42. https://doi.org/10.7146/nts.v33i1.131990

Stenshäll, Joakim. 2010. På jakt efter den dialogiska estetiken. Stockholm: Carlsons.

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Published

2023-12-19

How to Cite

Sauter , W. (2023). The Magic of Presence: Moments, Memories, Methods. Nordic Theatre Studies, 34(2), 18–28. https://doi.org/10.7146/nts.v34i2.141659

Issue

Vol. 34 No. 2 (2022): Utopia and Performance

Section

Articles thematic section

License

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