Date of Award
5-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.)
First Reader
Andrew McGowan
Second Reader
Katherine Profeta
Abstract
A ceremonial Eucharist bears striking resemblance to immersive theatre, both involving the creation of a delineated space, the prioritization of bodily senses, and emphasis on audience participation. These similarities are not accidental; rather, a ceremonial Eucharist is immersive theatre. Two key arguments are discussed: First, drawing on performance studies, we classify historical eucharistic liturgies through the lens of “doubleness,” moving beyond simplistic categorizations in previous literature. This approach reveals the contemporary Anglican liturgy as theatre, where the event of the Eucharist and the eucharistic elements (the bread and cup) “perform.” Second, utilizing immersive theatre research, we explore how immersive characteristics are employed in a ceremonial Eucharist (this thesis uses the example of Christ Church, New Haven). In doing so, the central performance of the bread and cup is reinforced, and the spiritual realities of the Eucharist become tangible and accessible to believers, transforming them from passive spectators to active participants. The conclusions drawn in this thesis are relevant in light of the rise of digitally mediated worship (“Zoom church” or virtual/online church); we respond by highlighting the importance of using frameworks that emphasize participation and a sensory-focused aesthetics.
Recommended Citation
Lin, Vincent, "“Taste and See . . .”: The Eucharist as Immersive Theatre" (2024). Yale Divinity School Theses. 18.
https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/divinity_theses/18