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Decoding Digital Narratives: Performance Criticism as a Biblio-Hermeneutical Lens 3

Decoding Digital Narratives: Performance Criticism as a Biblio-Hermeneutical Lens

Religion and Social Communication Vol. 24, No. 1 (2026)
ISSN 3057-0883 (Online)

Author

Prakash Abraham
Research Scholar, HITS, Chennai, India
Email: prakashachen@yahoo.com

Abstract

This paper explores performance criticism as an emerging hermeneutical tool within biblical studies, emphasizing its relevance in the context of digital storytelling. It highlights the ancient oral traditions that shaped biblical texts, arguing that the Bible evolved through storytelling, public readings, and performances. This study underscores the constitutive, epistemic, and critical dimensions of story performance. Through oral performances, biblical stories convey emotional depth and cultural resonance, engaging audiences with their communal and contextual relevance. The text delves into the interplay between performer and audience, illustrating how memory, emotion, and embodiment enhance storytelling. It argues that ancient scribes, far from being mere transcribers, were active participants in preserving and reshaping the stories for their communities. By engaging with the performative nature of biblical texts, Performance Criticism offers a dynamic interpretative framework that integrates historical, rhetorical, and social analyses. Furthermore, the paper advocates for re-appropriating biblical storytelling as a powerful communication paradigm in contemporary faith contexts. The rediscovery of memorization and internalization enriches the performance, fostering holistic engagement that connects mind, body, and spirit. By emphasizing storytelling’s transformative potential, the study proposes it as a medium to renew biblical communication and influence cultural paradigms. This hermeneutical approach bridges the gap between ancient oral traditions and modern interpretative needs, making biblical narratives more accessible, engaging, and relevant in today’s digital and post-literate culture. Performance Criticism thus emerges as a vital tool for re-imagining biblical communication in ways that resonate across time and cultures.

Keywords

performance criticism, hermeneutical tool, story performance, internalization

References

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Pages: 83–98

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62461/PRA090126

Submitted, Accepted & Published Dates

Submitted: February 26, 2025
Accepted: September 1, 2025
Published: January 1, 2026

Cite this article

Abraham, Prakash. “Decoding Digital Narratives: Performance Criticism as a Biblio-Hermeneutical Lens.” Religion and Social Communication 24, no. 1 (2026): 83–98. https://doi.org/10.62461/PRA090126.

Decoding Digital Narratives: Performance Criticism as a Biblio-Hermeneutical Lens

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