Thursday, April 16, 2020

Postmodern Dance: Brown, Rainer, Childs and Paxton

Trisha Brown

Yvonne Rainer


Lucinda Childs

Steve Paxton



Question

Go to the link Terpsychore in Sneakers
Scrowl down to page xx of the introduction.
Under the subtitle "The 1970s: Analytic Post-Modern Dance," read the first two paragraphs.

After watching these videos and the way these artists dance, why would you say they are analytic post-moderns?

Students' Work

Feedback on Videos

All of the videos above are analytic post-moderns because of their form. Although these are four separate pieces they all share lots of common aspects. For example, there were no props, or special costumes in any of them. Their clothing was very relaxed, nothing special, just like t-shirts, or sweatpants. Most of these videos are shot in black and white, and that is because of the technology of the era, however you can still tell that their clothes are also black, white, or very neutral colors, nothing stands out. This down-to-earth component is a key part of analytic post-moderns, bringing a change to dance after the experiments in the sixties. It is taking away all the extra parts that were added to dance and just focussing on the simplicity. Additionally, all the pieces were simple yet extremely expressive. The dancers would work their bodies as if they were sculptures, with emphasis on certain moves or gestures they felt were important. For example, When looking at Lucinda Childs dance, the movements were uncomplex, simply just moving forwards and backwards in semi circular or linear paths, yet the piece is still beautiful. Lastly many of the works did not contain music. They were just such an emphasis on the dancing itself. I look at analytic post-modern dances as bringing dance back to its simplest form, which all of these pieces did. Alexis Jackson

I’d say these videos were post moderns because they use and have key elements that describe the genre itself. The dancers work functional clothing like sweatpants and t-shirts. They dance in a room with no props or decorations just them in a well light room. Their movements are repeated and done in reversal multiple times throughout the performance. These videos also show very objective movements. There is no story being told, just the dancers and their bodies moving in silence. Kennedy Steward 

These videos are analytic post-moderns is because that they have the similar dance form and same elements that are belong to post-moderns. The dancers don't have a former costumes, all of the dancers are wearing functional clothing like sweatpants and t-shirts in the video. Furthermore, they dance with no props and there's no stage setting and decoration in the video. Their movements are expressive and powerful however it doesn't tells a story like some other dance forms. Amber Zhang

I would say they are analytic post-moderns because these dancers wore functional clothing and danced in silence in plain, well-lit rooms. Also, these dances were distanced from personal expression. Lin Xu

I would say these are analytic post-modern for several reasons. All of the videos are unlike most dancing I have ever seen. In each, performers wear basic clothing. Also, even though they are expressive and dramatic in their movements, there are no dramatic props, lighting, or special effects. The scenery is very simple and plain. The movements itself are intent and simplified. Lauren Haverlin

After watching these videos, I could see the resemblance of all of them. In each video, the dancers seemed to be moving with a very flowy pattern, and each performance seemed casual. I think it seemed casual because each of them were wearing neutral colored and laid back clothes.  I knew nothing about analytic post-modern dance, so first I watched the videos and observed each of them and then I read the article. The article was very informative and it explained that analytic post-moderns “is improved with physical techniques of falling… and that improvisation stands for freedom and adaptation.” I can see the techniques of falling, and it is very interesting to watch. Leah Martin 

I would say all of the videos contain the elements of analytic post-modern dance, which are differed from modern dance. In fact, they are not about the meaning of dance or music. What the videos of these post-modern dances represent the dance itself to the audience, without special light, music, and stage effects. Everyone can become a dancer, even they have no previous dance experience at all. It emphasizes the nature of body movements. Yi Gao


The videos all fit into the analytic post-moderns phase because their forms used take on specific elements from this age/type. In each of the videos, the dancers are not dressed in ornate/special costumes, but rather they simply were clothes in which they are able to move (like sweatpants).  There are no props, backdrops, etc, just the dancers moving in a room (and the videos shot in black and white). There usually was not music in the background, and that allowed the video to focus solely on the dance movements and expressions. I feel all of this reveals the post-modern era because it brings dance back to its root movements and purpose. Avery Gawel



Presentations



Alexis Jackson


Leah  Martin


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