Steven Berkoff – Salome
Watch Salome
Berkoff’s Salome and postmodernism Playfulness and self reference Berkoff’s performance – playfulness? Playfulness in the chorus? Generic blurring Acting, soundscape, music, mime (post modern) Intertextuality Performance of Wilde’s Salome Uses total theatre techniques Influenced by Jacques Le Coq and Martha Graham Uses Greek Theatre conventions – chorus Eclecticism Artistic pluralism. Mixture of performance styles – acting, slow motion, mime Music and soundscape as well as acting
Berkoff’s Salome and postmodernism Popular and commercial meets high culture Commercialising or bringing something to the masses which isn’t usually performed (e.g. Salome) Fragmentation and the death of representation Over exaggerated personas – representational characters Unpredictability of the performance – we don’t know when the chorus are going to change tempo or performance style. We also don’t know what is going to happen next Persona of Steven Berkoff? Uncertainty and the loss of content Set design – simple and stripped back? What effect does the tempo of the performance have on an audience member? Parody, pastiche and irony Does Berkoff imitate? Is there a contrast between expectations and what actually happens?
Homework Revisit and watch the rest of Salome and East ensure notes are complete