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Being Good at Playing Bad: Performance of the Heel in Professional Wrestling

Granelli, Steven M.
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5330-3385
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1499337139540751

Abstract Details

2017, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Communication Studies (Communication).
In this dissertation, I explored professional wrestling as a staple of popular culture, and questioned a phenomenon that is a driving force behind the industry. Specifically, I studied the role of the “bad guy” in professional wrestling, also referred to as the ”Heel.” After attending 12 live professional wrestling events and 20 in-depth qualitative interviews with professional wrestlers, this dissertation uses the lens of performance ethnography and theories of performance and identity to study the transactional nature of the performance of the Heel and audience feedback. This dissertation also explores how the performance is conducted physically as well as verbally. Two major findings emerged from the course of this research. The first major finding shows that the type of character that each participant plays directly influences their verbal and nonverbal Heel behaviors, and each of these behaviors are done for a specific reaction from the audience. The second major finding illustrates that the connection between the performer and Heel performance derives from the creation of that character, vulnerability associated with Heel performance, and how Heel performance can result in catharsis.
Christina Beck , PhD (Committee Chair)
Benjamin Bates, PhD (Committee Member)
Devika Chawla, PhD (Committee Member)
Diane Ciekawy, PhD (Committee Member)
142 p.
Communication
performance ethnography; professional wrestling; identity

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Granelli, S. M. (2017). Being Good at Playing Bad: Performance of the Heel in Professional Wrestling [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1499337139540751

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Granelli, Steven. Being Good at Playing Bad: Performance of the Heel in Professional Wrestling. 2017. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1499337139540751.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Granelli, Steven. "Being Good at Playing Bad: Performance of the Heel in Professional Wrestling." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1499337139540751

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.
Release 3.2.12