Irish Theatre International : Volume 1, Number 1

In 'Witnessing Change: Public Life and Performance in These Times,'

Janelle Reinelt engages with the disciplinary debate regarding performance analysis,

specifically whether terms such as ‘theatre studies’ or ‘performance studies’ are pertinent appellations,

and whether expanding the remit to include ‘cultural performances will dilute the field and

make it indistinguishable from cultural studies or sociology. Reinelt suggests that rather

than what should be included or excluded from the field of enquiry, the focus should be

on what theatre and performance studies can contribute to other fields. It is from this

premise that Reinelt analyzes the recent paradigm shift in the political landscape of Northern Ireland,

in terms of media representations of the détente between Nationalist and Loyalist factions as

public performances for global spectators.