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Alexander Schwan

Alexander Schwan

Alexander Schwan

E-Mail: schwan [at] schriftbildlichkeit.de

 

Ph.D. Project

"Room-Writing. Graphism in postmodern and contemporary Choreography: Trisha Brown, Jan Fabre, William Forsythe and Lin-Hwai Min."

 

Draft

The study deals with the phenomenon of graphism in postmodern and contemporary dance, the distinctive tendency to deliberately organize choreography as an ephemeral room-writing. How can the structural analogy of dance and writing, which differently characterizes all choreographies, become an object of reflection and visualization in dance itself? Which formal decisions are optional and essential for choreographies in order to discuss self-reflectively the graphic iconicity of their movements in the performance?

These questions are applied to prominent conceptions of graphistic dance, in the work of Trisha Brown, Jan Fabre, William Forsythe and Lin Hwai-Min. Methodically, new differentiations of the writing-discourse in literary criticism and cultural studies are transferred to the writing´s analogon, the dance. Thus, refinement and revision in the concept of writing in views of its materiality and iconicity will also adjust the reception of dance as an ephemeral inscription.

The thesis intends to develop poetics of dance as „écriture corporelle“, fanning out the optional interpretations of dance as process and product of writing. Taking the focus on its scriptural iconicity, as opaque as ornamental, dance will be read as ephemeral corporal-calligraphy and preposterous spatial graffiti.

 

 

Curriculum Vitae

Degrees

2009

Ordained Presbyterian Reverend, Protestant Church in Rhineland

2004

Diploma in Theatre Directing,
Academy of Music and Performing Arts, Frankfurt/Main

1999/2007

First and Second Theological Exams, Protestant Church in Rhineland

 

Employment/Education

since 06/2009

Associate member of the DFG Research Training Group „Notational Iconicity“, Freie Universität Berlin

seit 2007

Reverend of the Protestant Church in Rhineland

2005-2007

Curate in Sophienkirche, Berlin,
Seminar für pastorale Aus- und Fortbildung, Wuppertal

seit 2005

Ph.D. Project „Room-Writing. Graphism in postmodern and contemporary Choreography“,
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Gabriele Brandstetter, Freie Universität

2000-2004

Studies of Theatre Directing,
Academy of Music and Performing Arts, Frankfurt/Main

2003

Masterclass Schauspiel, Salzburger Festspiele

1996-1997

Jewish Studies, Hebrew University Jerusalem
Fellowship-Program “Studium in Israel”

1993-2000

Studies of Protestant Theology and Philosophy
Freie Universität Berlin,
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin,
Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg

 

Artistic Work

2001-2003

Director
Stadttheater Gießen; Academy of Music and Performing Arts, Frankfurt/Main

2003

Aischylos, „Gefesselter Prometheus“

2002

Heiner Müller, „Quartett“

2001

Heinrich von Kleist, „Penthesilea“

1994-1998

Dancer/Performer
Choralgraphisches Theater Heidelberg/Berlin

1998

„Elias“

1995

„Gottesvergiftung“

 

Publications (selected)

2009

„Expression, Ekstase, Spiritualität. Paul Tillichs Theologie der Kunst und Mary Wigmans Absoluter Tanz“, in: Tanz, Bewegung & Spiritualität, Jahrbuch Tanzforschung Bd. 19, hg. von Dagmar Ellen Fischer und Thom Hecht, Leipzig 2009, S. 214-226.

2007

„Kenosis in der Dokusoap. Das Geheimnis im Zeitalter der medialen Aufmerksamkeit“, in: Zeitschrift für Gottesdienst und Predigt, 1/2007, S. 19-21.

since 2005

Numerous publications in the fields of homiletics and spirituality

Co-Author for “Predigtstudien im Christlich-Jüdischen Kontext“

 

 

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