歷史視野與田野調查方法：我的臺灣庶民戲劇研究  339

前言  339

一、歷史視野與田野調查  340

二、範例一  國家科學委員會「都會型民間廟會劇場表演環境調查研究－－以臺北地區為例」  343

（一）調查工作的設計和執行

（二）一個內部觀點的提出

（三）作為劇場文化現象的意義和建言

三、範例二  國家科學委員會「歌仔戲的戲劇概念與理論建構(I)：以敘事學為重心」  348

（一）進行式多面向機制的觀察設計

（二） 論述的提出：一個完整機制的勾勒

（三）變化中的機制與變化的意義

結語  355

【提要】

來自庶民生活中的戲劇活動，無論是否躋身大眾休閒文化中的主流，它總是欠缺官方以及知識階層的注視。因而研究庶民戲劇的表演活動和藝術內涵，需要運用大量田野考察工作，透過取得的材料和訊息，來理解內涵，掌握現象。而一個立體的解析，往往需要涵蓋在一個跨越時空的歷史視野之下。

筆者長年從事臺灣庶民戲劇研究，進行的研究形態多端，深感歷史視野對於特定藝術文化內涵剖析與現象解釋的重要性。為了具體說明，本文選擇個人研究中較為單純的「都會型民間廟會劇場表演環境調查研究」和較為複雜的「歌仔戲的戲劇概念與理論建構(I)：以敘事學為重心」兩項計畫作為例子。前者為劇場環境研究；後者則是一個劇種創作藝術和機制的總體研究。

首先說明調查工作的設計和執行。即使是簡單而平常的步驟，都有許多攸關成敗的技巧和原則；針對複雜的議題，則更需要經過反覆思考、研擬和修正執行方法。其次，說明當獲得材料和訊息，從中發現現象之後，如何探尋背後的因素，提出一個內部的觀點。尤其重要的是，如何指出它的意義，呈現一個文化現象的完整性。無論是單純的或複雜的個案，歷史視野的有無，都扮演分析理解的成敗關鍵。

沒有任何田野工作的方法步驟是絕對正確或必須的，它應該根據論題需要進行「量身訂做」。而為了能夠提出一個有效的解釋，視野和溝通仍然是超越一切的利器。

關鍵字：歷史視野、田野調查、庶民戲劇、廟會。

Historical Perspectives and Field Studies: My Research on Plebeian Theatre in Taiwan

Abstract

        The dramatic activities derived from the lives of common folks, no matter how popular or mainstream they are or used to be, have yet to receive serious attention from the government or the intellectuals. As a result, field studies are urgently needed to gather materials and information to understand these activities and their artistic qualities. At the same time, historical perspectives are required to facilitate thorough investigations.

        I have been conducting researches on plebeian theatre in Taiwan for a long period of time and my research methods are diverse. To my understanding, historical viewpoints are important in any in-depth analysis of cultural phenomena. In order to explain my stand point in more specific terms, I will discuss as examples two of my studies. One is the more straightforward type of research entitled “Studies of the Environment Surrounding Folk-religion Theatre in an Urban Setting.” The other is a more complicated type of research entitled “The Formations of Ge-zai Xi’s Dramatic Concepts and Theory (I): A Narrative Approach.” The formal is a study of theatrical environment, while the latter is a holistic study of the art and mechanism of a type of theatre.

        First, the design and the execution of research are explained. They may seem simple enough, but the success or failure of the project depends on how they are perceived and carried out. This is especially true when complicated topics are involved. Then, the paper goes on to explaining how an “interior perspective” can be induced from the gathered materials by speculating on the reasons behind the phenomena. Most significantly, it is important to be able to find meanings in various data and present a holistic view of a cultural phenomenon. No matter how straightforward or complicated the study is, the absence or presence of an historical perspective is the key to the outcome of research.

There is no absolutely correct method or absolutely essential steps for field research. Specific approaches should be tailored to specific topics. In order to arrive at an effective explanation, the researcher’s vision and desire to communicate is most essential.

（紀蔚然譯）

Key words: historical perspectives, field studies, plebeian theatre, folk-religion theatre.