Performance as discourse: a multimodal perspective on meaning-making in theater

Abstract This paper presents a multimodal framework to the analysis of meaning-making in theatrical performances, conceptualizing them as multimodal discourses. It posits that the adoption of a discourse-oriented approach to theatrical performances addresses the limitations inherent in traditional syntax-oriented semiotics, thereby facilitating a more nuanced examination of performance interpretation. The central argument of the paper is that the underlying mechanisms of discourse semantics can better explain the meaning-making in theater by elucidating the intermodal and intramodal interactions among diverse theatrical semiotic resources. To demonstrate the practical applicability of this framework, the study conducts a detailed analysis of several instances from two English and Persian performances of the play A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt, showcasing its effectiveness in revealing the intricate interplay of various semiotic resources involved in constructing a coherent theatrical discourse. The findings underscore that embracing a discursive perspective in the examination of theater and conceptualizing it as a multimodal discourse substantially enhances the comprehension of its meaning-making mechanisms.