民俗的表演性:表演理论、活态传承与公共文化实践

Performative Folklore:Performance Theory,Living Tradition and Public Practice

表演理论是20世纪美国民俗学对于学界的重要贡献,其核心是"表演"和"语境"。在表演理论提出以后,民俗学经历了从关注文本向强调语境的转向,使得以差异性为基础的本真性再次成为学术研究的中心议题。然而,在随后以"语境"为中心的研究实践中,研究者们逐渐开始质疑本真性问题存在的逻辑合理性以及在实际民俗活动中的可操作性,研究重点也由此从辨析民俗事象的真伪,转变为讨论本真性背后的权力关系和文化政治。正是基于对"本真性"的祛魅,在当代非物质文化遗产保护的具体实践中,学术话语所追求的本真性与实际操作中的共享原则之间的矛盾,便因此而消解,这为当代公共民俗学实践提供了去语境化和再语境化的理论支撑和实操可能。在此,以行动认同为旨归的"表演"(形式)在"语境"(意义)的"式微"中重新凸显,实现了民俗传统的实践回归。

Richard Bauman’s performance theory can be seen as a great contribution of American folkloristics to the world’s academia.According to Bauman,performance and context are the key conceptual frameworks in folklore studies.Upon the emergence of the theory,folkloristics has experienced a shift from text to context and therefore,concerns of authenticity gradually became the focus of academic debates.However,when context is taken more seriously,researchers started to uncover the political core of the authenticity issue as the representation of culture.This understanding greatly challenges the dichotomy of the academic pursuit of authenticity and the sharing principle in practical domains as first proposed by Richard Dorson.This also frees public sector folklore,especially when its contemporary decontextual and re-contextual practices are conducted.Indeed,the practice of public folklore changes the overwhelming emphasis on “authentic” context and encourages a return to the praxis in folkloristics.