Performance Literature and Silent Reading Essay

The different forms of literature have been recognized as one of the best ways of expression wherein the individual responsible in creating a certain piece of literature can be able to express his or her thoughts and emotions as well as the ideals, values, and morals of a certain group of people or nation. Nevertheless, the importance of literature is realized through the perception of the people, which is why performance literature and silent reading have pivotal role in the appreciation of literature. The difference of performance literature and silent reading can be seen in the participation of an audience or reader, which makes it distinct from each other despite the situation that they are interpreting one form of literature. Both in the past and the present times, performance literature exists around the world. In the western and non-western societies literature is often appreciated by people through live performances. Literature performance involves the presence of an audience that should be engaged in the emotion of the performance literature. In this sense, performance literature requires the involvement of an audience as well as the corresponding social or religious context in order to exist. The same thing happens in situations when written texts that are embodied in some or all of the words are performed (Thomas, n. d.). On the other hand, in the modern western world, people are more accustom in experiencing literature by means of silent reading. Despite the existence of theater and poetry readings, the prevalent perception of proper literature in the academic realm is merely confined upon written pages. Being the case, most scholars always start with a written text in understanding different subject matters and appreciating literature (Thomas, n. d. ). Silent reading is recognized as an individualistic approach in understanding and appreciating literature because the reader is only the one responsible in understanding a written text like a story or novel as compared with performance literature that requires an audience and specific societal or religious context. Reference Thomas, R. (n. d. ). Performance Literature and the Written Word: Lost in Transcription? Retrieved from http://journal. oraltradition. org/files/articles/20i/editors_column_20_1. pdf.