Event Title
*Theatre for Social Change: The Importance of Conversation
Faculty Mentor
Karen Berman
Keywords
Karen Berman
Abstract
Theatre for Social Change, more specifically, Theatre of the Oppressed, is, according to Augusto Boal, theatre in the “most archaic application of the word”. My research with Dr. Karen Berman, the Theatre for Social Change class that she constructed around his work and his book, Games for Actors and Non-Actors, as well my intrinsic passion for theatre’s importance to the community, shaped the project that I hope to present at this year’s conference. My philosophy can summed up in the following Boal quote,“Theatre is a form of knowledge; it should and can also be a means of transforming society. Theatre can help us build our future, rather than just waiting for it.” I believe strongly that our most pertinent tasks as people of theatre are to introduce the conversation and provide a safe but challenging mode of expression for all. Engaging the young Early College students for whom we performed and witnessing their burgeoning interest in strengthening their community through this avenue is what drives me. Our class kept a detailed record of exercises, student responses, and discoveries. In my presentation, I plan to incorporate an exercise from Boal’s forum theatre practice utilizing his famous “spect-actor” philosophy. Each show discusses a prominent social issue and the “Joker”, or the host of the performance, invites volunteers to modify what they see fit. Often, the “spect-actor” is reserved, but the stimulated thoughts behind their concocted solutions flood their mind, compelling them to action. Applicable theatre is the foundation of my research.
Session Name:
Revolution, Representation, and Reform
Start Date
4-4-2014 1:15 PM
End Date
4-4-2014 2:15 PM
Location
HSB 211
*Theatre for Social Change: The Importance of Conversation
HSB 211
Theatre for Social Change, more specifically, Theatre of the Oppressed, is, according to Augusto Boal, theatre in the “most archaic application of the word”. My research with Dr. Karen Berman, the Theatre for Social Change class that she constructed around his work and his book, Games for Actors and Non-Actors, as well my intrinsic passion for theatre’s importance to the community, shaped the project that I hope to present at this year’s conference. My philosophy can summed up in the following Boal quote,“Theatre is a form of knowledge; it should and can also be a means of transforming society. Theatre can help us build our future, rather than just waiting for it.” I believe strongly that our most pertinent tasks as people of theatre are to introduce the conversation and provide a safe but challenging mode of expression for all. Engaging the young Early College students for whom we performed and witnessing their burgeoning interest in strengthening their community through this avenue is what drives me. Our class kept a detailed record of exercises, student responses, and discoveries. In my presentation, I plan to incorporate an exercise from Boal’s forum theatre practice utilizing his famous “spect-actor” philosophy. Each show discusses a prominent social issue and the “Joker”, or the host of the performance, invites volunteers to modify what they see fit. Often, the “spect-actor” is reserved, but the stimulated thoughts behind their concocted solutions flood their mind, compelling them to action. Applicable theatre is the foundation of my research.