La Mamelle Arts Center, 3rd Floor, 70 12th Street at Market

Judith Barry, Cup/Couch (13th November 1977)

Description

Cup/Couch explores the difference between “telling an event” and :”doing an event,” using cups and couches to explicate this process in 20 scenes, each set up to exhibit by example, a variety of current linguistic practices for getting at this question. The first third of the piece runs through the most prevalent methodology – scripting, point of view, matonomy, definition, syntax, punning and so on. In the second part, the contextual range inherent in an examination of this kind is explored; such as how sounds can be used, voice quality, words as containers – phrase repetition and metaphor. The remainder of the piece scrutinizes narrative structure, dealing with questions concerning language theory, the process involved, relationships and information about cups and couches specifically that was uncovered in the course of the examination. And, how does “telling” differ from “the telling?” (Barry 1978:10)