The Citations and the Structure of Performance S/N (1994) Created by Dumb Type

Abstract

This paper about performance piece S/N (1994) created by artist group Dumb Type investigates the citations of previous works by Dumb Type members or other artists. Then, it illustrates the structure of the performance piece by using interviews about the creation process and the recorded performance analysis of S/N.

In previous reviews, Dumb Type was reported to value the equality among the members in terms of participation in the creative process. In addition, Dumb Type was said to prevent the control by a single author/director on the performance piece. At first sight, hybridity, or decentralization, is the initial characteristic of S/N. The performance's elements are juxtaposed on the stage, including texts, moving bodies, synthesized music, lighting, performers' dialogue, and the projection of moving images.

In consequence, however, citations and the original creation portion on S/N are aligned along two main themes consistently. S/N has a structure in which similar parts repeat and develop.

The relationship between the creation of S/N and FURUHASHI Teiji, who informed his close friends about his HIV-positive status just before the creation, will need to be investigated further.