Abstract
Star studies sees film stars as "structured polysemy" and anticipates a salient system of meaning for us to decode and appreciate. Performance theory treats meaning as "conjunctural" rather than "structured" and privileges coincident, improvisation and juxtaposition. Approaching star studies through performance theory helps explore a wealth of filmic techniques and performance tactics. This article focuses on Tony Leung Chiu-Wai's "self-effacing" performance of repetition and examines special cases of play and liminality as well presence and absence in Chinese cinema. These cases challenge our conventional habit of thought and cognition and reveal an unlimited potential of alternative and alteration vis-à-vis history and reality.
First Page
21
Last Page
31
Recommended Citation
Zhang, Yingjin, and Qianliang Yi. 2014. "Play and Liminality in Chinese Cinema: Star Studies in the Perspective of Performance Theory." Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art 34, (2): pp.21-31. https://tsla.researchcommons.org/journal/vol34/iss2/11
