This site has been designed as a showcase for the research of students taking Dr. Kelly Taylor's COMM 5560, Seminar on the History of Performance Studies. The purpose of this course is to ground the graduate student in the varied performance techniques, philosophies, and conventions that have contributed to the formation of contemporary Performance Studies theory and practice. Readings and class discussions cover performance genres from the Greek rhapsodes and Germanic scops to contemporary performance artists and stand-up comedians.

To visit the website for Dr. Taylor's undergraduate class in History of Performance Studies, click here.

In lieu of a traditional research paper, the final project for this course calls for the student to research a specific performer or performance style discussed in the required readings and prepare a series of linked web pages on the performer or style's origins, social context, and influence. A bibliography of reference texts and appropriate hypertext links is also required. Each student was limited 1.44 megabytes (one high-density disk full) of data.  Here is a copy of the blank website the students used as a template.

Anglo Saxon Scop  by Dr. Kelly S. Taylor  (This site was created as a model for the assignment)

Greek Oratory by Robin Fletcher

  Gladiators by Amanda Jo Chessir

Troubadours by Natikan Peek

Medieval Jesters by David Woodford

Medieval English Gypsies by Christi Wells

French Minstrels of the Thirteenth Century by S. Kyle Davis

Shakespearean Performance by Holly Baber

Chambers of Rhetoric by Dr. Kelly S. Taylor 
Charlotte Cushman by Tiffany VandeWall
Anna Cora Mowatt by Dr. Kelly S. Taylor

Three Female Voices at Chautauqua by Dan Rogers

David Locke (aka Petroleum Vesuvius Nasby) by Ryan McCallum

Introduction to Reader's Theatre by Julia Chernova

Judy Garland by T.J. Brown

Jack Benny by Millie Crews

Happenings by Rebecca Walker

Lenny Bruce by Meredith Hebenstriet

(Warning: This site contains language many viewers may find offensive... just like Lenny would have wanted it to.)

 

Influential Black Performers of 1997 by Artist Thompson

Marionettes in America by Amanda Gross
Os Confederados by Tony Spencer

Performance Art of Dennis Oppenheim by Melinda Gonzales

Postmodern Performance by Maria Simone
 

Reports from

Seminar on Non-Western Presentational Performance Techniques

Spring 2004  
  The Youruba of West Africa by Emily Downing
  Buddhism in Noh by Leann Findley
  Javanese Shadow Puppets by Anne Nocher
  Wai Khru Ritual of Thailand by Natikan Peek
  Native American Pow-Wows by Tiffany VandeWall
  Beijing Opera by Christie Wells
  Costuming in Japanese Theatre by Amy Zsohar
Fall 2007  
  Kama Sutra by Courtney Bobb
  Nollywood by Nkechi Chebueze
  Kenyan Folklore by Hilda Wambui Gitau
  Ramlila by Cindy Gordon
  Aboriginal Dreamtime by Christine Keller
  Wai Khru and Ram Muay by Kris Noteboom
  Regina Jose Galindo by Gigi Perez
  North African Women's Theatre by Khristie Prince
  Bunraku by Kristan Smeaton
  Palestinian Debka by Emily Wachsman

  Last Updated on: 04/15/08  
Copyright © 1998 Dr. Kelly S. Taylor  
Hosted by the Communication Studies Department
of 
the University of North Texas,
Denton, Texas  

Please send your comments or questions to: ktaylor@unt.edu