Performance Art is Ripe for Layering: Performance Art as a Therapeutic Intervention

Author

Nur GreeneFollow

Date of Award

Winter 1-15-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MA - Master of Arts

Department

Expressive Therapies

Advisor

Dr. Meg Chang, Ed.D., BC-DMT, LCAT, NCC

Abstract

Performance art is an artform which benefits Expressive Arts Therapy (ExAT), the field of expressive therapies, and the mental health profession itself. For the purposes of this literature review, performance art is defined as any expression which attempts to be transformative, is witnessed by self or other, matching at least two modes of creative expression, often interacting with those witnessing, and which offers some element of experiment. Expressive Arts Therapy, a modality of therapy within the expressive therapies aimed to move (transfer) creative expression from one artform to another and develop a connection between different artistic representations and one’s psyche, is especially attuned to the layering of different media performance art involves. This author will review literature on performance art and adjacent methods (Developmental Transformations (DvT), playback theatre, psychodrama, and imagical play) utilized as a therapy, as well as the historical use of performance art and related practices for healing and psychological transformation, in individual and group settings. Performance art can be an effective clinical intervention as gleaned from literature on its utilization as a healing act or actual therapy. Included is my own arts-based research using performance art to evoke psychological transformation amidst difficult mental health and social justice issues. Research shows that performance art is an emerging therapeutic artform that creative art therapists can use. Yet, its efficacy as a clinical intervention has not been thoroughly investigated.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Greene, Nur, "Performance Art is Ripe for Layering: Performance Art as a Therapeutic Intervention" (2025). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses. 903.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/903