The Songs of Black Experiences: consonances and dissonances in the path between Grotowski and the Workcenter

Résumé En Fr Pt

It is proposed in the paper to observe the role of African-diasporic songs in the work of Jerzy Grotowski and in the context of continued research at the Workcenter of Jerzy Grotowski and Thomas Richards. We reflect on the songs from their epistemological and political potencies and as fundamental elements for an ethnic-racial discursivity in studies of this important work in the field of performing arts. The notion of songs of black experiences proposes the understanding of the term tradition songs, central in Grotowski’s work, as means of communication of diasporic and Afro-descendant experiences, contrary to the solely instrumental and uncritical use of these performative technologies.

Il est propose dans l’article d’observer le rôle des chants afro-diasporiques dans le travail de Jerzy Grotowski et dans le cadre des recherches poursuivies au Workcenter de Jerzy Grotowski et Thomas Richards. Nous réfléchissons sur les chansons à partir de leurs puissances épistémologiques et politiques et en tant qu’éléments fondamentaux pour une discursivité ethnique-raciale dans les études de cette importante œuvre dans le domaine des arts performants. La notion de chants d’expériences noires propose d’appréhender le terme chants de tradition, central dans l’œuvre de Grotowski, comme moyen de communication d’expériences diasporiques et afro-descendantes, contrairement à l’utilisation uniquement instrumentale et non critique de ces technologies performatives.

Propõe-se no artigo observar o papel dos cantos africano-diaspóricos no trabalho de Jerzy Grotowski e no âmbito das pesquisas continuadas no Workcenter of Jerzy Grotowski and Thomas Richards. Reflete-se sobre os cantos a partir de suas potências epistemológicas e políticas e como elementos fundamentais para uma discursividade étnico-racial nos estudos sobre essa importante obra no campo das artes performativas. A noção de cantos de experiências negras propõe a compreensão do termo cantos de tradição, central na obra grotowskiana, como meios de comunicação de vivências diaspóricas e afrodescendentes, contrária ao uso unicamente instrumental e acrítico dessas tecnologias performativas.