10 Statements (or how to)- Statements on performing

History and Objectives:
The statements can be used to define a specific area of interest within performance, and to elaborate and develop thoughts on a certain topic. It relies on the form of manifesto where being precise to the point of excluding other possibilities is desirable. The statements do not need to have eternal value, but they should trigger you to think differently. The tool is about producing opinions and positions that can be productive within your work. The purpose of writing 10 statements is to clarify your own ideology and make it visible to others. It’s also about daring to take a stand, exposing yourself to critique and put some fire in the debate.

Description:
1. Choose a topic that you would like to work on, for instance “statements on how to work”, “statements on site-specific performance”, “statements on spectatorship” or “statements on what practice is”.

2. Think of the format of writing and decide whether or not you want to use a formula. For instance super short and precise, long and descriptive or starting each sentence the same way, x is…/x must…/x is considered…

3. Write the 10 statements on the topic. Try to be as specific as possible and write them in a manner that is coherent with its ideological content and don’t be afraid of being categorical.

Example:

7 statements on how/why 10 statements

Writing ten statements on something is a quick and fun way to help you articulate postitions, strategies or ideologies.

You can choose to write your statements from various positions, also ones you don’t nescessarily agree with. Take the more difficult option.

Try to be as precise as possible. This could either mean being super categorical or trying to completely capture whatever complexity exists in what you are writing about and anything inbetween.

Let your statements take the form which is best suited to what you are writing about, the position you are writing from or how you want your statements to work.

Challenge yourself to write all ten statements or more. Don’t stop if you first think three is enough.

Writing ten statements on something has the potential to be a versatile tool with lots of uses. It can function as a starting point for discourse, as ideology, as a guide on how to work on something or think around it, or as a departure point from which to develop stuff, like subjects to work on, practices and ways of working.

Write your statements with a clear intention of what or who they are for, or simply begin writing and see what happens. Sometimes the use becomes clear afterwards. Writing ten statements can be good simply to clear your head.

Collective Statement Game

Write one statement on a piece of paper and pass it to your neighbor. He/she can choose to add, change or delete a statement and the paper is finished when it has 10 statements. Continue passing the remaining papers until all papers have 10 statements. Read and discuss the statements in order to understand what they propose in terms of cohesion, fragmentation, perspective etc.

De manera totalmente intuitiva y sin pensar demasiado he escrito mas de 10 statements on performing.

• Performing is one way of sharing a process, not the unique.
  Performing is to reproduce orders that you got/made before.
  Performing is a platform for criticism and exchange.
  Performing demands of and object/person to enter on it exit. Somehow, it needs to end.
  Performing is to be seen by people and to acknoweldge how much you like it.
  Performing is a way for some people to feel special.
  Performing is 100% possible in and out of a performative space.
  Performing is not the same as performative.
  Performing is and exposure of what you don’t wanna shared too.
  Performing contains a form.
  Performing is a whole body experience (whatever it means for each performer)
  Performing is what performers does.
  Performing is a present action that is preceded by decisions.
• Performing is one way of sharing a process, not the unique.
• Performing is to reproduce orders that you got/made before.
• Performing is a platform for criticism and exchange.
• Performing demands of and object/person to enter and exit. Somehow, it needs to end.
• Performing is to be seen by people and to acknoweldge how much you like it.
• Performing is a way for some people to feel special.
• Performing is 100% possible in and out of a performative space.
• Performing is not the same as performative.
• Performing is and exposure of what you don’t wanna shared too.
• Performing contains a form.
• Performing is a whole body experience (whatever it means for each performer)
• Performing is what performers does.
• Performing is a present action that is preceded by decisions.