What is Performance? No, really what is it?!

Reflecting from Marvin Carlson's Critical Introduction of Performance gave us an "analysis and commentary may at first seem more of an obstacle than an aid." (1) This quickly became true for me as I was going through the chapter. I found myself finally grasping one idea only to turn the page and be introduced to a whole new idea. After the first two, I sat back and digested what I had just read only to be given an even bigger chunk of Carlson's definition of what performance looks like.

What caught my attention at first was Strine, Long, and Hopkins take on performance developing into a "sophisticated disagreement". Defining performance became no longer about who was right or who had the most articulated definition but rather gaining the best version of all positions for a fuller understanding of "conceptual richness of performance".

As we further study Carlson's introduction we are introduced to Richard Schechner's label "restored behavior" as the quality of performing with a constant distance of "self" and behavior of the character being performed. The first example that came to mind were people who participate in cosplay. Yet, after reading this introduction I began to ask is cosplay even a performance? Yes, there is dedication and long hours that go into creating the various costumes and accessories but are the cosplayers looking to perform for others or merely mimic their favorite Doctor Who, Lord of the Rings, or Star Wars character? Even as I'm writing this post there is a continuing wrestle between whether or not cosplay can be found under the concept of restored behavior.

After a little research, I found what is termed Masquerade cosplay. Basic cosplay only involves to look like a certain character whereas when cosplayers are masquerading, they attempt to act as their characters would. Whether they have memorized lines their character would say or remember scenes these cosplayers are certainly considered as performers, at least in my book. It brings us back to the notion that performance is not only a display of skills but of behavior and attitude.

Below is a link in which the cosplayers costumes and accessories are considered better than the originals. I tried finding a video of Masquerade cosplay but most of the characters I am not familiar with and really wouldn't know how well they were to the original. So feel free to look for yourself and share!

http://www.bitrebels.com/geek/10-epic-cosplay-costumes-that-are-better-than-the-originals/