Minor in Performance and Performance Studies

Overview

The Performance and Performance Studies Minor is designed for students who want to incorporate performance perspectives into their primary art/design/architecture/writing practice and to learn new ways of understanding how all kinds of performance--  from theater, media and music to everyday life performances-- affect how we see and engage the world.   The minor involves two required courses and three electives; it may be declared at any time. Please contact Liberal Arts Advisor Erich Kuersten for more information (ekuerste@pratt.edu).

About the Minor

The Minor in Performance and Performance Studies is a unique program for Pratt.  It is designed for students who want to know more about performance studies theory and performance practice and who may wish to incorporate these ideas into their primary art/design/architecture/writing practice.  Students will learn new ways of thinking about how performance-- which could include everything from traditional theater to experimental dance to sports to everyday life performances-- affects how we see and engage the world.

The P+PS minor incorporates two foundational aspects: learning about the academic field of Performance Studies, and learning performance art techniques.  The program offers a well-rounded experience for students who are interested in PPS for academic and creative enrichment.  

Students take two required courses and then apply three other elective courses toward the minor, for a total of 15 credits.  Some of your previously taken elective courses may already be eligible for credit into the P+PS minor.  The other requirements for the P+PS minor are below.

You may register for the minor at any point during your undergraduate career at Pratt, and courses you’ve already taken can be counted towards it.  Since minors are guaranteed registration in the relevant courses; it is to your advantage to declare the minor early on.   If you register for the minor and decide later to opt out, there is no penalty.  Please see the Liberal Arts Advisor to declare the minor.

Completing the minor means submitting for approval by the Minor Coordinator (1) a Qualifying Paper and (2) a Performance Project.  Both of these will generally be work you’ve done in classes that count towards the the minor (especially the two required courses) that you feel represents your best work.  The paper should be at least ten pages.  The performance project may be live or in video or other recorded format; there is no prescribed length.  If paper/project were done for class, you should have received a grade of B or better for the paper/project to be eligible to count for this requirement.  The P+PS Coordinator will advise on any recommended revisions if necessary.  You may submit a qualifying paper/project at any time, before or after you’ve completed the coursework for the minor.

Required Courses

The core of the minor consists of two required courses, one focused on theory and the other on practice, but with significant resonances between the two:

HMS 360d: Introduction to Performance Studies (3.00 cr.)

In this course, students will learn the fundamental concepts, terms, and theories in the field of performance studies.   Students will learn how to use these frameworks to understand traditional performance arts as well as gaining unique perspectives on their own major fields, on other art/design practices, and on everyday life, by learning to see the world performatively.  This class is required for the Performance and Performance Studies minor but open to non-minors as well.

HMS 360c: Introduction to Performance Practice (3.00 cr.)

This class explores the art, the play, the technique and the rigorous fun involved in bringing a strong presence to the unique space of performing.  The class begins with a focus on physical and vocal training, moving through improvisation, generating material, and working with prepared material.  Time and timing, space, tenderness, chaos, intention, perception, lying, and the imaginary are examples of the kinds of ideas we might use as tools to move us into exploratory spaces.  This class is required for the Performance and Performance Studies minor but open to non-minors as well.

Minor

Performance and Performance Studies Minor

Minor Requirements

Complete these courses as requirements of the Performance and Performance Studies Minor.

---

COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING REQUIRED COURSES HMS-360C

---

HMS-360D Introduction to Performance Studies

---

TAKE 9 CREDITS FROM THE FOLLOWING COURSES HMS-261A OR
HMS-262A Introduction to Acting OR
HMS-301B Topics in Modern/Contemporary Literature And Culture: Modernist Drama OR
HMS-308A Topics in European Literatures: Shakespeare OR
HMS-320C Topics in Creative Writing: Screenwriting II OR
HMS-320S Special Topics: Creative Writing New York School Film OR
HMS-331C Topics in Cultural Studies: Games, Simulation and Performance Politics OR
HMS-360A Topics in Performance and Performance Studies: the New Circus OR
HMS-360B Topics in Performance and Performance Studies: Performing the Spectacular: Making Political Theater in the 21st Century OR
HMS-360S Spt: Performance and Performance Studies OR
HMS-460S Special Topics in Performance & Performance Studies OR
HMS-430S Special Topics in Literary/Cultural Theory OR
HMS-490S Spt: Music and Sound Studies OR
COM-314

---

---