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- Title
Looking at Movement as Culture.
- Authors
Novack, Cynthia J.
- Abstract
This article explores issues concerning the resemblances between movement systems and language. Movement systems and language are cultural activities which have biological aspects. Even apparently simple and natural actions such as walking or sitting are in part culturally constructed. Also, like language, movement is, a cultural given which people are constantly creating, participating in, interpreting, and reinterpreting on both conscious and unconscious levels. However, movement is unique. It precedes language in individual development, forming a primary basis for both personal identity and social relationships. It is kinesthetic and visual, rather than aural, and in many instances, movement is less specific than language. But while movement does not usually have structures which are analogous to the grammar that characterizes every language, it has observable patterns and qualities which can be identified with particular cultures and historical periods. Thus, in order to observe and understand more about movement, one needs to ask what characterizes it in a given setting, how the characteristics form an overall impression, and what kinds of acceptable variations can exist.
- Subjects
NONVERBAL communication; SOCIAL interaction; HUMAN mechanics; LITERARY movements; LANGUAGE &; culture
- Publication
TDR: The Drama Review (MIT Press), 1988, Vol 32, Issue 4, p102
- ISSN
1054-2043
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2307/1145892