Dépouillement du document :
1- Definition, theories and global development of contortionism
Etymology
The practice of body flexibility in Ancient civilizations
Ancient Egypt
Mexico
Ancient India
Europe

1.1- Development of contortionism in the West during the 20th and 21st century
Early emergence of contortion in print media
Colonial exhibitions and the golden age of Hollywood
Eroticism and contortion
Televised talent shows and social media

1.2- Definition issues and common misconceptions about contortionism
Definition issues in literature

2- Genesis and development of contortionism in China
Categorization of contortion in China
Silk road
Cultural revolution and the reformation of the acrobatics sector

3- Aesthetics and performance analysis

4- The disciplined body as a political instrument

5- Foucault and the training methods in Chinese acrobatics

6- Contortion training

Résumé :
This research study proposes an introduction to the performance art form contortionism by examining its theories and functions throughout the 20th and 21st
century. It considers themes including the appropriation of contortionism during the golden age of Hollywood and discusses definition issues between contortionism and other disciplines that highlight body flexibility, such as gymnastics and yoga. By examining the genesis of contortionism in ancient China, it aims to explore parallels between the origins of Chinese contortionism and the establishment of Chinese acrobatics. It later dissects the political use of contortionism in socialist China and the development and institutionalization of acrobatic troupes since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Drawing upon a Foucauldian perspective, it further examines the parallels between the Western training of soldiers during the 17th and 18th century, and methods of traditional Chinese acrobatic training in the 21st century at the Beijing International Art School. This monograph includes data from a wide range of literature, material evidence, oral history, current media reports, and considers recent work in anthropology, archaeology, and political history. It, therefore, offers the interested reader, the scholar, the contortionist and contortion practitioner a substantial treatise about the art-form contortionism.

Collection : Bibliothèque de l'École nationale de cirque

Localisation : Bibliothèque

• Ex. 1 — disponible