Aesthetic Collectives

<p>This book focuses attention on groups of performing people that are unique aesthetic objects the focus of an artist’s vision but at the same time a collective being; a singular whole mass that exists and behaves like an individual entity.</p><p>This text explores this unique experience which is far from rare or special. Indeed it is pervasive ubiquitous and has since the dawn of performance been with us. Surveying installation art from Vanessa Beecroft & Kanye West Greek tragedy back-up dancing groups and even the mass dance of clubbing crowds this text examines and names this phenomenon: Aesthetic Collectives. Drawing on a range of methods of investigation spanning performance studies acting theory studies of atmosphere and affect and sociology it presents an intervention in the literature for something that has long deserved its own attention.</p><p>This book will be of great interest to scholars students and practitioners in performance studies theatre live art sociology (particularly of groups and subcultures) cultural studies and cultural geography.</p>