The
first thing to understand about performance writing is that words perform.
Words do things whether we utter them or not. The mere hearing, reading,
sighting or touching of an isolated word informs us that something is
happening. Words mean thought. When we utter a word or sound is it a form of
writing or must writing physically appear before us? Is writing all about
display? The use of a word indicates some sort of intention on the part of the
user of the word; there is some form of object in the users mind, intentionality.
In general, a word is chosen by the user for a specific purpose. That purpose is what the word is intended to
perform, or at least there is an expectation by the user that the word will
perform in a certain way, that the word will achieve its intention. So when it
comes to the writing of the word, there are a number of ways in which the word
can be displayed, which can include visual display, auditory or other sensual
display. The choice and design of that display is made by the writer, which
leads me to this quotation:
‘…it
is the reader’s task to perceive the providential design which has arranged the
events in the order in which the work presents them and with the results which
it describes. Yet it is the design that justifies these events and results and
gives them a meaning.’ (George Dumézil).
This
reader’s task is to perceive and demonstrate how those providential designs or
public displays of writing reveal identity, if not the identity of the actual
writer, certainly the identity of the society in which the display if placed. This
is a vague idea of what the next three years is about.
In
the meantime, here are some signs to be found in China displaying the Chinese
characters together with their English translation provided by (I am assuming)
a Chinese translator. (Photos by Pippa Hall)
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