Acts of Recognition: The Political Dimension of Terminology

This article uses theories on the Politics of Recognition to attach a political dimension to terminology. More than a practice that facilitates communication in rehearsal or studio situations, terminology is a tool that aids in the recognition of one’s work and identity. Two case studies frame the discussion, namely, certain scholarly material written about theatre in Africa and the laboratorial practice developed by Frank Camilleri, a practitioner-academic whose work has featured in recent publications. (These choices are framed around the theories on recurrent practices as developed by Michel De Certeau.) Two terminological approaches are delineated, namely, the appropriation of terms and the formulation of alternative nomenclatures. The relevance of terminology to contemporary discourses on hybridity, creation of lineages and academic accreditation is also evaluated.