연극에서의 현존

Abstract

Considering an intrinsic characteristic that theatre happens right in front of audience, theatre and the concept of presence have been inseparably linked through all ages in any aspect. Yet, it is quite impossible to define what the presence exactly means, in fact. Instead, it may be appropriate that the concept of presence would be taken a look by associating with other theatrical aspects: 1) the concept of here and now, temporal/spatial immediacy with co-existence and liveness, 2) flow of consciousness to object, and relation between performer(s) and spectator(s), 3) inexplicably mysteriousness and psychological power, 4) fictive immersion, acting technique and aesthetic autonomy, 5) body, materiality and energy, 6) pursuing accordance with origin in respect of philosophical meaning, ontological exuberance or representation/simulation, and possibility to be mediated or signified. The presence has been dealing with positively or somewhat skeptically depending on its different point of view. So, this thesis intends to trace a basic map on the changing idea of presence as theatre is also likely to become enlarged. In western theatre, it is assumed that the study on the presence started in 18th century, by researching acting and actors in particular. During that period, the presence generally denotes a mysterious charm, aura or a sort of power to attract and enrapture the audience toward a certain actor. However, the presence in the theatrical field has really begun in earnest to research from the late 20th century, when nonrepresentational and postmodern theatrical experiments have been come out. As these kinds of theatres, in other words very sensual works beyond logical meaning of text, were likely to be increased, the idea of presence become actively treated with much attention on staging body and materiality. Before long, the concept of presence is become doubtful and skeptical by post-structural theorists whom give ground to postmodern theatre practitioners. As we may well know, Jacque Derrida claims that the presence that Antonin Artuad was eager to achieve is, in fact, impossible to reach. Phillip Auslander also has a skeptical look to the presence in theatre. He considers that the border between live art and mediatized art in this mediated society become blurred. Around the same time, in case of performance theories by Richard Schechner or Erika Fischer-Lichte, they rather bring the concept of performativity by deflecting away the concept of presence. It can be said that their studies open a breath toward a tension around the concept of presence in a way. As of today, the presence enters upon a new phase. Followers succeeded Derrida's idea of deconstruction are likely to show a skeptical view on it in both practical and academic field. They assume that the presence as a self-fulfilling and transcendental idea cannot be fundamentally achieved. Yet, it does not mean to give up regarding the presence itself but rather ties to approach and translate it from a new point of view. After all, they try to show a quite progressive and flexible view on the concept of presence in both fields: The ideas such as absence, trace, memory, visual/spatial context, prozessualität, media-performance are exemplified. The presence is something dynamic that can be freely transformed relying on theatrical context, time period, type of production etc. Considering its characteristic, the studies on the presence should be continued. As the boundary of theatre has been drastically enlarged since 2000, the concepts such as illusion, fiction, dramatic structure come also to be disintegrated. In this so-called new theatrical flow with such as site-specific theatre, media arts or installation, I assume that the presence is one of the important ideas in order to aesthetically support these new theatrical experimentations.