Erasing the Audience

Strategies for establishing a relationship with the viewer

A theoretical tour through the strategies developed by VN in the performance cycle Seven Deadly Sins (2002-2008) to establish a relationship with its audience. Through analysis, the lecturer initiates a series of demonstrations that place him at the centre of the effects of what he is talking about. The theorist cannot avoid ” getting his hands dirty with practice “, and the same applies to the performers, who this time find themselves in the role of the analyst’s demonstrators. The audience also finds itself in a doubled role – the lecturer addresses them as his listeners and the performers as their viewers. The performance text is based on excerpts from Blaž Lukan’s essay Erasing the Audience (published in the book Ne, Via Negativa 2002 – 2008) and texts from the performances Starting Point Anger (2002), Incasso (2004), Would Would Not (2005), Four Deaths (2007) and Out (2008). Chapters: Viewing Itinerary (Starting Point Anger, 2002), Viewer as Accomplice (More, 2003), Performative Economy (Incasso, 2004), Game of Conditionals (Would Would Not, 2005), Viewer Seduction (Viva Verdi, 2006; Not Like Me, 2007), Death in Viewers’ Lap (Four Deaths, 2007), Viewer As Leftover (Out, 2008).

Erasing the Audience

2009 • Via Nova
Lecture performance • 60 min

Concept and direction — Bojan Jablanovec
Lecturer — Blaž Lukan
Performers — Katarina Stegnar, Gregor Zorc, Boris Kadin, Mateja Pucko, Kristian Al Droubi
Producer — Špela Trošt
Production — Via Negativa