관객의 바로 앞에서 공연이 이루어진다는 연극예술의 본질과 특성상 연극과 현존은 상호 불가분의 관계를 지녀왔다. 현존(presence)은 연극의 종류, 관극 환경, 시대적 양식 등에 따라 달라지는 개념이며 계속해서 무한히 변화할 수밖에 없는 복합적인 현상이다. 현존은 1) 지금, 여기에, 동시에 존재한다는 시공간적 직접성과 생생함 2) 대상에 대한 의식현상, 혹은 행하는 자와 보는 자의 관계 3) 알 수 없는 신비감이나 심리적 힘 4) 허구적 몰입, 연기적 기교, 미적 자율성 5) 몸, 물질성, 에너지 6) 철학적 의미에서 근원과의 합치, 존재론적 충일감, 혹은 재현과 시뮬레이션, 매개화와 기호화의 가능성 등의 개념들과 관련해서 때로는 긍정적으로, 혹은 회의적이거나 새롭게 조정하는 입장에서 논의되고 있는 중이다. 현재로서 현존에 대한 명확한 개념 정리는 불가능에 가깝다. 그럼에도 불구하고 현존에 대한 논의는 보다 활성화되어야 한다고 본다. 2000년대 이후 연극이 변화, 확장되면서 일류전, 허구, 완결성의 개념들이 무너졌고, 미디어 아트, 사이트스페시픽 아트, 설치예술 등 공연의 개념을 확장하는 새로운 형태의 작업들이 쏟아져 나오는데 이를 미학적으로 뒷받침 해줄 중요한 개념들의 하나가 현존이기 때문이다. 이런 상황 속에서 현재 우리 연극학계에서 현존이라는 개념은 매우 임의적으로 사용되고 있는 형편이다. 이 논문은 변화하고 확장되는 연극 개념 속에서 역시 변모하며 혼란을 겪고 있는 현존에 관한 생각들의 기본적인 지도 나마 그려보자는 의도로 씌어졌다.
Considering an intrinsic characteristic that theatre happens right in front of audience, theatre and the concept of presence have been inseparably linked through all ages in any aspect. Yet, it is quite impossible to define what the presence exactly means, in fact. Instead, it may be appropriate that the concept of presence would be taken a look by associating with other theatrical aspects: 1) the concept of here and now, temporal/spatial immediacy with co-existence and liveness, 2) flow of consciousness to object, and relation between performer(s) and spectator(s), 3) inexplicably mysteriousness and psychological power, 4) fictive immersion, acting technique and aesthetic autonomy, 5) body, materiality and energy, 6) pursuing accordance with origin in respect of philosophical meaning, ontological exuberance or representation/simulation, and possibility to be mediated or signified. The presence has been dealing with positively or somewhat skeptically depending on its different point of view. So, this thesis intends to trace a basic map on the changing idea of presence as theatre is also likely to become enlarged.
In western theatre, it is assumed that the study on the presence started in 18th century, by researching acting and actors in particular. During that period, the presence generally denotes a mysterious charm, aura or a sort of power to attract and enrapture the audience toward a certain actor. However, the presence in the theatrical field has really begun in earnest to research from the late 20th century, when nonrepresentational and postmodern theatrical experiments have been come out. As these kinds of theatres, in other words very sensual works beyond logical meaning of text, were likely to be increased, the idea of presence become actively treated with much attention on staging body and materiality.
Before long, the concept of presence is become doubtful and skeptical by post-structural theorists whom give ground to postmodern theatre practitioners. As we may well know, Jacque Derrida claims that the presence that Antonin Artuad was eager to achieve is, in fact, impossible to reach. Phillip Auslander also has a skeptical look to the presence in theatre. He considers that the border between live art and mediatized art in this mediated society become blurred. Around the same time, in case of performance theories by Richard Schechner or Erika Fischer-Lichte, they rather bring the concept of performativity by deflecting away the concept of presence. It can be said that their studies open a breath toward a tension around the concept of presence in a way.
As of today, the presence enters upon a new phase. Followers succeeded Derrida's idea of deconstruction are likely to show a skeptical view on it in both practical and academic field. They assume that the presence as a self-fulfilling and transcendental idea cannot be fundamentally achieved. Yet, it does not mean to give up regarding the presence itself but rather ties to approach and translate it from a new point of view. After all, they try to show a quite progressive and flexible view on the concept of presence in both fields: The ideas such as absence, trace, memory, visual/spatial context, prozessualität, media-performance are exemplified.
The presence is something dynamic that can be freely transformed relying on theatrical context, time period, type of production etc. Considering its characteristic, the studies on the presence should be continued. As the boundary of theatre has been drastically enlarged since 2000, the concepts such as illusion, fiction, dramatic structure come also to be disintegrated. In this so-called new theatrical flow with such as site-specific theatre, media arts or installation, I assume that the presence is one of the important ideas in order to aesthetically support these new theatrical experimentations.