Performance studies is an interdisciplinary field that explores the ways in which cultural performances and practices shape and reflect social, political, and historical phenomena. This field encompasses a wide range of performance traditions, including theatre, dance, music, visual arts, and popular culture. Performance studies scholars analyze performances not only for their aesthetic qualities, but also for their social and cultural significance. They may study how performances construct and perpetuate identities, ideologies, and power dynamics, as well as how they challenge and subvert these forces. Research in performance studies often draws on a variety of theoretical frameworks, including feminist, postcolonial, queer, and critical race theory. Scholars in this field may also engage in ethnographic research, archival studies, and performance analysis to better understand the role of performance in society. Overall, performance studies seeks to illuminate the ways in which performances shape our understanding of the world and influence our social and political realities.