Butterfly takes flight

The Translocal Circulation of Creative Practice

Bibliographic Data

ID3977482
AuthorsAmanda Rogers (0000-0002-0454-8183, Royal Holloway University of London, corresponding author)
Year2011
Volume12
Issue7
Pages663-683
Publication date2011-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial & Cultural Geography (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1464-9365 • E-ISSN: 1470-1197
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14649365.2011.610235
OpenAlexW2069336056
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited51

This article analyses the relationship between artistic practice and mobility through a focus on the translocal circulation of theatre. It works against the assumption that art and its creative practices are tied to particular contexts. Instead I suggest that examining translocal connection provides a framework through which to consider how practices of art-making are emplaced and differentiated, whilst also encompassing physical and imaginative movement. I demonstrate this argument by examining the writing, casting, and staging of the play M. Butterfly in New York City, London and Singapore. I analyse how these creative practices were related to translocal travel, but also demonstrate that such activities spilled beyond the performance to reorganise socio-cultural relations. As a result, my analysis views creativity as an interrelated set of artistic and social processes. This article thus extends contemporary geographical work on art and performance in two ways: first, by considering how artistic practices draw upon, and are influenced by, spatially extensive flows of people, finance and ideas; and second, by considering the creative effects of artworks as they circulate through different contexts. Cet article analyse le rapport entre la pratique artistique et la mobilité à travers une mise en examen de la circulation « translocale » du théâtre. Il réfute l'idée que l'art et ses pratiques créatives sont liés aux contextes particuliers. Je suggère plutôt qu'en examinant la connexion translocale un cadre se dégage pour considérer comment les pratiques de fabriquer l'art sont placées et différenciées tout en englobant le mouvement physique et imaginatif. Je démontre cet argument en examinant la scenario, la distribution, et la mise en scène de la pièce Madame Butterfly à New York City, à Londres, et au Singapour. J'analyse ces pratiques créatives en relation au voyage « translocal » en démontrant aussi que de telles activités se sont étendues au-delà la représentation jusqu'au point de réorganiser des relations sociales-culturelles. Mon analyse voit en fin de compte la créativité comme une série de processus artistiques et sociaux. L'article fait prolonger dans deux façons donc les études géographiques contemporaines sur l'art et la performance: il considère dans un premier temps comment les pratiques artistiques et tirent des circulations de gens, du finance, et des idées aussi bien qu'elles en sont inspirées; et il considère dans un second temps les effets créatifs des œuvres suscités par leur circulation dans de différents contextes. Este artículo se analiza la relación entre práctica artística y movilidad a través un enfoque en la circulación translocal de teatro. Trabaja contra el supuesto que el arte y sus prácticas creativas están amarrados a contextos particulares. En cambio propongo que examinar conexión translocal se provee una esquema a través lo cual considerar como las prácticas de hacer el arte están emplazado y distinguido, mientras se engloban movimientos físicos y imaginativos. Demuestro este argumento por examinar los actos de escribir, asignar y representar de la obra de teatro M. Mariposa en la Ciudad de Nueva York, Londres y Singapore. Analizo como estas prácticas creativas estaban relacionados a viajes translocales, pero también demuestra que tal actividades extendieron afuera de la representación para reorganizar relaciones social-culturales. Resulta que mi análisis se percibe la creatividad como una colección de procesos artísticos y sociales. Así el artículo se extiende trabajo geográfico contemporáneo del arte y representación en dos maneras: primero, por considerar como prácticas artísticas llevan de, y están influidos por, flujos espacialmente extensivos de personas, finanzas y ideas; y segundo, por considerar los efectos creativos de arte mientras se circulan por diferentes contextos. Keywords: creativitytranslocalgeographies of artperformanceAsian American theatreKeywords: créativitétranslocalgéographies de l'artperformancethéâtre sino-américainKeywords: creatividadtranslocalgeografías del arterepresentaciónteatro Asiático Americano Acknowledgements This research was funded by a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship (PDF/2009/429) and an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship (PTA 026-27-1668). Special thanks go to TheatreWorks Singapore, for allowing access to their archive and for their assistance and patience with my requests over the last two years. Also deep felt thanks to Glen Goei, Ivan Heng and Sacha Brooks for their time, hospitality and enriching discussions. Thanks also to Phil Crang for his advice and to the three anonymous reviewers for their comments. Any mistakes or omissions are my own. Notes 1 I use the term ‘Oriental’ rather than ‘East Asian’ here because this is the terminology used within the play by the characters. This usage conveys a particular era, but it is also deliberately deployed by Hwang to reinforce the Orientalist stereotypes held by the character of Gallimard, reflecting his arrogance and essentialist imagination. 2 Dukes took over from Lithgow as Gallimard after 6 months. 3 A recent online debate surrounding the production of the Bryony Lavery play More Light with its use of yellow face and caricatured cultural signifiers, demonstrates that 20 years later, issues of stereotyping and casting remain hotly contested in the UK. See http://westendwhingers.wordpress.com/2009/05/26/review-more-light-arcola-theatre

Argument (complex analysis · Art · Creativity · Humanities · Mobilities · Political science · Sociology · Anthropology · Cultural Industries and Urban Development · Socioeconomic Development in Asia · Sport and Mega-Event Impacts

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub