The effect of performer-audience interaction on performance strategies : "Moose-Turd Pie" in context / Saul Frederick Broudy.

Format:

Book

Manuscript

Microformat

Thesis/Dissertation

Author/Creator:

Broudy, Saul, author.

Contributor:

University of Pennsylvania. Folklore and Folklife Program, degree granting institution.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Penn dissertations--Folklore and Folklife.

Folklore and Folklie--Penn dissertations.

Local Subjects:

Penn dissertations--Folklore and Folklife.

Folklore and Folklie--Penn dissertations.

Physical Description:

x, 463 leaves : illustrations ; 29 cm

Production:

[Philadelphia Pennsylvania] : University of Pennsylvania, 1982.

Summary:

The concern of folklorists with performance has naturally led us to consider the interactive role of audiences. Little analysis has been done, however, to determine the specific effects of audience feedback on a performance. In this study, I have compared two performances by the same performer before very different audiences, focusing on the telling of "Moose-Turd Pie" (a tall tale with a joking punchline). Since the tale is told as part of a larger context, that of the relationship between performer and audience, I have discussed various components of that relationship. My comparative analysis of the two tale-tellings shows how they reflect their larger contexts. My data on audience response was obtained by timing the lag time (between presented pieces and the beginning of the responses) and duration of each recorded response, by quantifying response intensities, and by categorizing the composition of the responses. Each telling of the tale provides a climax to the humorous portion of the respective performance. The performer, as part of his strategic presentation of persona, then switches to other aspects of that presentation. Where this switch occurs depends on how the particular audience responds to the earlier part of the performance. Analysis of my data shows that the tale is placed where lag times and durations become most similar across performances, and where intensity has built to a climax. The performer then switches to the presentation of other aspects of his persona. Thus, I have been able to show how the strategic structuring of each performance has been affected by audience response. My data also shows that there are recurrent patterned sequences of audience response throughout the performances. The structuring of these sequences reflects performance structure in general; these sequences are hierarchically related to their component stages in the same way as other features of the performance relate to their component parts. During the course of the performance, performer and audience become "conditioned" to each other, and the performer is continuously adjusting his strategic presentation to suit the situation. The effect of audience response is clearly demonstrated through a microanalysis of the "Moose-Turd Pie" tale as part of its context.

Notes:

Ph. D. University of Pennsylvania 1982.

Department: Folklore and Folklife.

Includes bibliographical references.

OCLC:

83945915