The bodies we are (not): A choreographic research on practicing self-distancing
An Introduction to the dissertation by Antje Velsinger
In her dissertation, “The bodies we are (not): A choreographic research on practicing self-distancing”, Antje Velsinger delves into the intricate relationship between the body and society in the context of Western neo-liberalism. In her research and work, she challenges the dominant view of the body as an "identity project" and "designable object," that is often molded for self-enhancement and optimization. Instead, Velsinger proposes alternative approaches that can liberate the body from these societal pressures.
As main methods, and core to her research, she explores two choreographic strategies: becoming unfamiliar with one’s own self and engaging in playful interactions with the self. These methods are designed to disrupt the conventional ways we perceive and control our bodies.
The first strategy, becoming unfamiliar with one’s own self, draws from the concept of body image by Gallagher. Velsinger explores how individuals can consciously recreate their body images, breaking free from societal expectations. She incorporates Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenological ideas and Butler’s constructivist theories to highlight how this unfamiliarity can open up new ways of understanding and transforming our bodies. Through her artistic project, “The bodies we are”, she experiments with unfamiliar actions and perceptions, using techniques like Method Acting to challenge and reshape personal body images.
The second strategy, playing with one’s own self instead of working on it, is inspired by Schiller’s notion of play and Sennett’s research on evolving bodily concepts over centuries. Velsinger focuses on the face, a central point of identity, and explores how distancing oneself from one’s own face—through masks and playful manipulation—can blur rigid forms of self-identification. Her project, “Let’s face it!”, showcases these choreographic and performative strategies that encourage a playful disengagement from the neoliberal demand for self-optimization.
Through these strategies, Velsinger suggests that we can foster a new attitude toward our bodies—one that resists the pressures of self-optimization and instead embraces the body as a space for playful and experimental construction. By distancing ourselves from the neoliberal ideals of control, we open the door to alternative desires, interests, and imaginations about our bodies and selves. Her work proposes self-distancing not just as a form of resistance, but as a way to expand the body’s potential beyond the confines of societal expectations.
The Dissertation was published by Transcript Verlag.
Antje Velsinger works as a choreographer, performer and researcher in the field of contemporary performing arts. She studied choreography and performance at the Institute for Applied Theater Studies at Gießen University and completed her doctorate within the artistic-scientific graduate program »Performing Citizenship« at HafenCity University Hamburg. As the artistic director of »Antje Velsinger / new trouble«, she creates multimedia stage pieces, sound-video-installations, and various research labs. Besides her artistic work, her practice includes writing, teaching, and lecturing at different European universities and art schools.
