Twenty-First Century Interpretation

Question:

How can we fully understand and interpret a performance from the past so authenticity can be attempted when we are experiencing performance through a twenty-first century perspective?  



      We cannot fully understand and interpret a performance from say the 1800's because we think differently now. We do not have to do and think as they did in 1800 which is perfectly fine. Our thinking and technology has grown. For example, females used to marry around the age of 15. This is considered a taboo to society. Females do not need to marry at all. They can be a success on their own. One attempt to understand a past performance which I can see working is learning the history of the time and gathering primary sources on the topic but even then, it will not be complete and it will never be complete because there is no recording of the performance and you wouldn’t be there to experience it. Your long lost Aunt Jill may have been there but she can't help. She has expired like the performance did. Don't look at your twenty-first century perspective as a burden, look at it like a blessing; they didn't think to create the laptop yet.