test CONTEMPORARY SYNERGIES BETWEEN THEATRE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HUMANITIES: «THE DOM-Project»|ΠΑΡΑΒΑΣΙΣ/PARABASIS

CONTEMPORARY SYNERGIES BETWEEN THEATRE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HUMANITIES: «THE DOM-Project»

Εξώφυλλο Παράβασις Τόμ. 20 / Cover Parabasis Vol. 20
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Published: Nov 24, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681//.43016
Ester Fuoco
Abstract

This study explores the nexus of urban dance and the environmental humanities, spotlighting the innovative Italian «DOM-project «Porpora che cammina» as a paradigmatic example of how contemporary theatrical practices are weaving ecological awareness into the urban landscapes. By scrutinizing the integration of mesology and eco-sustainability within performing arts, the paper investigates how urban environments transform into vibrant stages that interrogate the relationships among individuals, society and urbanity. Drawing on the principles of Richard Schechner's «Environmental Theatre» and Maurice Merleau-Ponty's phenomenological approach, as well as emerging aesthetic theories, the research highlights the importance of embodied experience and audience engagement in redefining perceptions of urban spaces. It also emphasizes the need for a prismatic and interdisciplinary analysis, no longer confined solely to theatre studies. The «DOM-project» serves as a case study to illustrate the dynamic interplay between permanence and transience in urban settings, offering insights into the ways artistic practices can foster a deeper connection with the environment. This inquiry highlights the role of performative arts in promoting environmental consciousness, demonstrating the potential of «site-specific theatre» and urban dance to redefine spectatorship and enhance our engagement with the urban ecosystem.

Article Details
  • Section
  • Ειδικό Αφιέρωμα / Special Issue
Author Biography
Ester Fuoco

Dr. Ester Fuoco (PhD in Digital Humanities) is currently a Senior Researcher in Performance Studies at IULM University in Milan and Professor of Theatre Literature and Philosophy at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts. From 2021 to 2023 she held a research grant at the BioRobotics Institute of the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa and at IULM University, where she contributed to interdisciplinary projects focused on the application of robotics and artificial intelligence in the performing arts.

        Her research explores the integration of advanced technologies into performance practices, with particular attention to theatrical anthropology and the evolving relationship between human and non-human agents on stage. Since 2025 she has served as the director of the scientific book series SINAPSI – Knowledge, Innovation, Arts, Thought, Science, Interconnections (Forthcoming for Puntum Edizioni), which is dedicated to investigating the intersections between artistic creativity and technological innovation. Her recent publications include the monograph Esplorazioni intermediali nel teatro di Amir Reza Koohestani. La ricerca della libertà tra iperrealtà e tradizione (Mimesis, 2025); Deviations in Contemporary Theatrical Anthropology: New Myths and Performative Rituals between XR, Robots and AI (Routledge, 2024); and Né qui, né ora. Peripezie mediali della performance contemporanea (Ledizioni, 2022).