What are the barriers to effective performance?

Responses needed for my term paper! (Chinese performance arts)?

• Hi, I'm currently a student in UCLA studying art history, and for my term paper, I would like to get some responses from people who already have established justification of "art". It is about Chinese Contemporary performance artworks, and focuses on their extremity (i.e. eating human fetus performance, etc.). If you are interested in giving me your own thoughts and responses toward some of these performance artworks, please leave me your e-mail and I can send you over more information (brief historical background, description of the artworks, etc.). Your responses will be used with proper citation under your full consent on this paper. Below is an abstract of my research paper: In the mid 1980s, performance art came to China from West. This paper will talk about brief introduction of the concept of performance art and body art, as well as their connections to each other. Then, the paper will further go into the discussion of the meaning of performance art in terms of Chinese art, and will discuss the differences between the European body art and Chinese performance art. By using few representative performance arts from “’89 China/Avant-Garde Exhibition”, and controversial performances from late 1980’s, I would like to talk about people’s responses (reactions) toward some of the extreme performances done by the artists, and their reflections and the circumstances that shaped them to do such things. The goal of this paper is to understand the deeper meaning of artists’ artworks by comprehending the incorporation of his and her personal life with historical backgrounds that shaped their thoughts, and integrating the public responses with the performances. Again, if you would like to contribute, please provide me with you e-mail, and I will send the information ASAP. And, I'd really appreciate it if you can send me your responses asap! The research's deadline has been extended to Friday (March 23, 2012). Additionally, with your consent, I would like to put your artworks (if you happen to be an artist) and your info on my paper, so please also provide me with the information. ALL I NEED FROM YOU: Your own THOUGHTS about some of the performance arts in late 20th century of China. Some of these performance arts are somewhat "out-of-place" or very odd and unique. I would love to know whether you consider these as art or not (why or why not) & just simply what you think of some of these artworks & your assumption of "why" they did such.

• Answer:

  "extremity (i.e. eating human fetus performance, etc.)" - I have to give my opinion on this as an artist of some 50 years, mother of 34 years, and grandmother of 4 months. I do not think that this type of "extremity" as you call it even should be in the same sentence with art. There's always someone trying to push the envelope in art, etc. but this is just plain disgusting and I do NOT consider this art in any way shape, or form! ! ! The images that conjure up in my mind make me almost physically sick thinking about how these people go about doing their "performance" with what items to represent their ideas. "Can't even conceive of the thought...!