[Dancecult-l] liveness (Kariann Goldschmitt)

[Denise Dalphond]

Hey all,

This discussion is bringing up a lot of fascinating ideas in my little 
ethno head.  I think it would be great to develop this into a more 
rigorous discussion of defining "liveness" as it relates to DJ 
performance and electronic dance music.  I hesitate to create a 
distinction between DJ performance, involving the typical set-up of 
electronic and possibly digital equipment and use of pre-recorded sound 
in a new performance context, and other "live" performances.  I would 
call typical DJ performance live as well - there can be various levels 
of composition, improvisation, etc. in DJ performance.  An important 
idea in this train of thought is "emergence" in performance, in terms 
of folklore, anthro, linguistics.  This is the idea that there can be a 
continuum in performance of varying degrees of emergence, flexibility, 
spontaneity, as well as preparedness, adherance to script, and so on.

Of course, performance can be a label that applies to recorded cultural 
expressions as well, but "liveness" in this definition of emergence in 
performance could certainly include DJ performance and electronic dance 
music in various "live" settings.

What do y'all think about defining "live" performance in this way?

Denise
--
Denise MM Dalphond
Assistant Instructor, Motown
Graduate Assistant, Liberia Collections Project
Department of Folklore & Ethnomusicology
Indiana University
ddalphon at indiana.edu