Couple example of this:
Con-Dom talking about performance he did in Taiwan. Harassing the crowd, and being delighted that one female started to fight back. She would not take the "abuse" as accepted performance, but treat it like being abused in "real world" so to say. I don't remember how he described it, but there was some sort of notion of spark of resistance ignited by performance. Expected roles of performer and audience broken. artist doing something without consent, yep, I assume so - but that is mandatory element of that particular performance. It was not harm and damage to audience member, but something enough to ignite authentic feeling.
Finnish short lived PE trio performed show in one of the early private shows in Helsinki. big venue, large open space with various kind of people attending. When everybody do not know eachother, "actions with audience" has notch more relevance. There would be nothing worse than "acting tough" for 15 close friends. Haha. It would be plain silly. As opposite, focusing energy on performance could happen in almost "youth crew" type of group spirit - like Fire/In/The/Head did. He would not attack the crow, but actually always fall backwards to crowd while screaming. Crowd would not be dodging attacks, but actually involve in live gig in form of support. Like one big mosh-pit, where energy is most of all... positive?
Anyways, back to the Finnish band. One of the commando masked men approached audience, pushed first couple of guys like lame thug inciting streetfight. He got smashed in the head with beer can and stumpled few feet backwards and returned to stage. Haha. Absolutely nothing against any of the artists, but situation was classic display that acting or even "being" tough, has the element that there is always tougher guy few feets away. If you are not up to challenge, then other approach is better.
