What is Performance Criticism?

• Embraces many methods, including Historical Criticism, Narrative Criticism, Form and Genre Criticism, Reader-Response Criticism, Rhetorical Criticism, Textual Criticism, Orality Criticism, Speech Act Theory, Social-Science Criticism, Linguistic Criticism, The Art of Translation, Ideological Criticism, Theater Studies, and Oral Interpretation Studies.
  
  
• Reframes the biblical materials in the context of oral/scribal cultures of the early church, aspects of which include the performance event, performer, audience, context, and text.
  
  
• Constructs scenarios of ancient performances.
  
  
• Learns from contemporary performances of these materials through the translation, preparation, and performance of a text for group discussion of the performance event.
  
  
• Reinterprets biblical materials accordingly.

For more information see the articles by David Rhoads:

Performance Criticism: an Emerging Discipline, Part I

Performance Criticism: an Emerging Discipline, Part II