Dramaturgy as an enquiry on how interweave space, body and technology in performative interactive installations

Dramaturgy as an enquiry on how interweave space, body and technology in performative interactive installations

(Short paper)

Keywords: Dramaturgy, performance, spatial theory, interactivity, installation.

This paper explores some of the important steps in the evolution of my doctoral research, which aims to relocate the notion of dramaturgy from the performing arts into interactive installation art. It briefly contextualises dramaturgy in the 21st century, and analyses the dramaturgical transformations caused by the impact of technology. It uncovers the still open process of the composition of a performative interactive installation, which supports the development of space dramaturgy concept. Developing the concept of space dramaturgy presupposes the analysis of other compositional elements vital for the elaboration of the concept: space, body and technology. The first aspect to be analysed is the philosophical scope related with both individual and collective experience of space. This draws on Bachelard, Merleau-Ponty and Lefebvre’s spatial theories. The theoretical underpinning is followed by a review of the process behind practice-based research, reflecting on the possibilities of adapting that to a dramaturgical questioning. Finally, the paper enquires into the interweaving of spatial bodily experience, participation, technology, the importance of time, and memory as a mean of finding performativity in interactive art installation, taking as a specific example the doctoral practice research.