Mirror Mirror on the Wall!

Approaches to the Stage! This course has pushed me to reach deeper thinking into not just approaches to the stage, but approaches to every idea that a person may present. When I approach a situation I ask myself ,"why" rather than saying, "well that's the way it is." I go back to the time that ranted on about how I hated protest, which was the most I have ever talked unscripted in front of people in my life. It developed a realization that people hear what I'm saying with a clear voice. After, I finished my rant I was still asking, "why", and still searching for a balanced answer.

I enjoyed the critical and analytically thoughts that Dr. Fletcher would lure you deep in, and then drags us back to the surface in a flash. But you know you can't let those thoughts go, and you bring them further than the classroom just like how i'm still trying to figure out what performance is? I thought that I was so certain what performance was. Then, we were presented with different types of performance that challenged the specific definition in my head. At the end of the day, I believe performance doesn't have any boundaries. Other hand, I have to draw a shallow line on things that fall in the Uncanny Valley. They are cool beings, but  I wouldn't what them to take over the world.

          

Would you like to hop on the Carousel of Uncanny!

Uncanny is a double edge sword. Uncanny can come off as eerie or horrifying at first but can blend in to something that becomes part of normal life. For example, when Dr. Fletcher brought up how we have mobile devices that we carry around to make call which also tracks. So back when this type of technology was coming up it was skeptical or weird. Now we use mobile devices in almost everything we do. The other side of this Uncanny sword is that it can aid in humans not falling into simulacra. It can help us to separate and create a sense of that we are originals and not a copy of copy. To relate this to performance the Uncanny needs to be far from what reality is in the here and now to give a sense of distance from ourselves so we can real and original. I feel that for an artist sense out the Uncanny is a quality to have, because an appreciations for human uniqueness grows. Then, when involving the Uncanny in your work you can appreciate human qualities to push the envelop. There is a balance I feel that needs to be hold.

An example that popped out to me is Disney's Magic Kingdom Carousel of Progress, which I was think about through this whole discussion. As the audience sits through this show, there are people talking during the performance, which the entity that  is performing won't respond because it is programmed to do what it its programmed to do. Then also the purpose of using animatronics is the durable quality of the actor animatronic. Which concludes that Uncanny is a line that is drawn the purpose and meaning of the performance.    

What Change!

To change the problem of the oppressor vs. the oppressed, there would have to be push to reach this Forum, Image, and Invisible Theatre to people that we give power to. If we could either bring them to the performance or convince them that this is the way to really hear the people. I feel if we carry these types of theatre, we can make more impact for the people, and these form are, from what I see, contain a thought out process to effectively present an issue are problem rather than Activism. There is something that is said with visuals rather than performing an action for a purpose like Activism. I know that when I see something visually it stick with me and possibly create an emotional reaction for me. Now, to forward this theatre to the powerful, we would have to create movement with the people of that community.      

Theatre will never stop being the answer because there is an idea that is presented, and people like to voice their opinion through some form. The way that we approach the theatre these ideas are different but the question I would ask is theatre making changes that we as performers, audience, and creator of theatre are satisfied? Is theatre making an actual change that we can see and can implement in that change with true intentions of it being reality in our performances? I would answer this question with when I can see the change not only in reality, but a translated form of this change in reality in theatre this is when I will be satisfied.   

Act...Act.....Activism!!!!

I have been in a battle with myself about same-sex marriage and how this issue affects my faith based belief of  same-sex marriage. I have strong feelings about this issue is because I have friends, or have been friends with, or even meet , or engaged with an gay person or same-sex couple.  The importance of this issue for me is that according to the Bible, which by beliefs are based off of says that Homosexuals are going to hell then why I don't have a sense of wavering away from this evil. To bring this back to activism, I feel strongly about it, but I wouldn't necessarily organize a protest about this issue. I'm a person who sees protest as an extreme way of voicing your opinion or making your voice heard. My idea of protest is sitting and having a civil conversation with the issue at hand. I feel that we can learn from history specifically pertaining to Civil Rights Movement on how to handle this situation in a non-violent plan. 

The act of protesting in my mind leads to violent activity. Actions do speak louder that word but when you are fighting or voicing your opinion against something there is already a sense of anger and frustration, which in the right environment  can rub together start a spark of violence. An this goes for the people that are involved in the issues that are being protested. That frustration and anger rubs off and causes verbal attacks which escalates to that spark of violence. The act of protest angers me because I hate to see people get into risky conflicts that can put other people in possible danger because of the actions of one group of people or person. 

Then there is the idea of people like to stay away from conflict, which seems reflected for the above statements. It not that I want to avoid the issue at hand, but it the concept that there is a better way in my eyes to solve these issues.           

Tick Tock Tick Tock... Time and Pace

When I think of time in reality, I think that time is precious so don't waist it. Therefore, I want to do things quick but at a pace where I can enjoy what I'm experiencing and absorb what I'm doing. The way that the reality effect reinforces twitter drama is that twitter is a medium that is for instant real-time communication. Once the twitter drama is out there it's out there and therefore you and  not mediate it's content. Also the text can get different reactions and be what it wants to be without any added influence. There are also constraints on the creation of these twitter dramas with the 140 characters. I feel that the constraints give a reality effect as well , because speed up your creativity if you plan to make this hobby. If you plan to do it a couple of times give you the mindset of making a choice which is a good habit when you are dealt with all the choices to post about.

On the other hand with durationals, these type of plays use up more of your time but you have the choice of choosing whether to stay for a long time or a short time. The plays that were presented in put into play the reality of simple situations involving confessional and question and answer scenarios. The way that durationals reinforce the reality effect is how you can relate to the reality of the content that the durationals that we read about present. These plays expand the range of what you can fit in a six hours and give the opportunity to explore those details either in an audience member's perspective and an actor's perspective. Therefore, you are given more time to absorb more things that you may have may felt that were overwhelming or things from your memory that were there, but you just missed. This set plays make you more of an observer that a looker, which is an opportunity to take in more.

So the next step, would be for me is teleportation. Now let the performance come to us in a space similar to twitter drama but through teleportation, but that is technology a little ways down. . Another thought is holograms. If holograms could look like real people then yeah.  

                 

Let's move into a different SPACE!

The theatrical production that I would incorporate the 6 axioms of environmental theatre is Killer Joe by Tracy Letts. This play takes place in a trailer park. To involve the elements of environmental theatre I would found and trailer park and transform it into the environment of Killer Joe. I would have different trailers for different parts of the play and people would sit in the space and absorb the space as long as they needed and move to the next part of the story. 

The results that I would want the audience to have is to experience and absorb a space that comes alive and be a possible space that they can actually touch and feel. I know when I go to see a production that is set on a stage there is a sense of I know what is going to happen. I'm going to see a story happen live on a stage with set, lights, sound, and actors. Whereas if I set the audience in the middle of the environment of the play there is a sense of they don't know what's going to happen in this space, and then their senses are more aware. The audience takes in more and understand because when my senses are heighten in a space that Killer Joe presents. I'm going to take more away from the experience because it felt real to me than a set of rules put on me when I go see a play in a theatre where the stage is just in front of me instead of around me. This goes along with  the quote from Tadeusz Kantor that Amar states in his third question, which I agree with. 

Performance Art

My thoughts on theatre becoming diluted is that it will not become diluted if we give people something that they can relate with. I find that if you tell me a story that I can relate to, or what I'm going through in my life; I'm more likely to listen in and become interested in what you are trying to say. Another thought is that you need to entertain the audience to keep them drawn in. We can lose it if we don't encourage theatre in education settings. For example, I didn't have a deep appreciation for theatre until I was introduced to this department and learned there is more to it that actors on a stage. It would be cool if we could make and promote a movie and the staged version of that movie at the same time, and see which one would see the most tickets. It would most likely be the movie, because if I don't see in the movie theatre I can get it later and watch and and live theatre you can't. There would need to be something to draw people in and ways to get people to realize the live work that happens on a stage rather than a screen. I love movies and eventually want to be a part of the business but I appreciated theatre and what it gives.

 

Media is already a creation of imaginations and stories from memory so there is truth in Andreas Huyssen's "imagined memory." I have memories that I can relate to something that I have seen on TV/Flim which is the happy family sitting at the table sharing what has happened in their day. I really cannot think of a subject matter that has impacted me that I have not personally experienced. I can draw things out from something and relate it to my personal experience that impacted me, but just the subject matter itself. I cannot think of any.  

        

Abstraction

LSU Theatre's production of Elephants Graveyard effectively created dark matter for me. An elephant is put to death after killing a human. But should she have without a fair trial, which is put to question. But the dark matter is the elephant. The elephant is never seen or heard. So without seeing, we have to go to our imaginations to picture this elephant in physical form. So we have to rely on the stories of the town people that are speaking about this elephant and the horrific thing that happened to her. The emotions and stories of these town people effectively bring the dark matter of  the elephant alive which by this result there is still the mystery of what she looked like to take in her physical form and reflect all as a whole. But would the physical form of the elephant solve the questions that you would have on the matter at hand. Would with or without dark matter questions would be answered. 

Them we go to the question of could we handle the scene of the elephant's hanging. When I was hearing the step by step actions that were taken of her killing, it was good choice not to show or watch her death in any form or way. It's is something that should not be seen or heard. And the dark matter of it all is so powerful because it brings the power of mystery and questions alive. I enjoy that power and it is effective to strengthing my imagination and questioning reality itself. 

Disturbance

A disturbance in theatre that resonates is Street Theatre. Street theatre's purpose is to take the theatre world to outdoor  places to communicate an issue for the most part from what I have gathered. I believe that street theatre is the way to bring theatre to the next level for the 21st century. It is effective to me by just spreading this art form through the streets. I feel that through street theatre you can engage audience members and attract audiences of different ethnicity. But can street thetare attract people to the theatre we know today. All theatre should engage the audience and lead them into a feeling. The theatre should be an experience.  Also anther idea to change theatre and make it more attractive is to start with the young minds. The kids. Theatre can bring a little one's imagination alive just like B Street Theatre School Tour. They are a touring group that travel throughout Northern California to school putting on production. Here is a statement form one teachers about this touring,

 "We are always amazed by the performances. They are so engaging. The students and staff cannot keep our eyes off of the characters. As teachers we really appreciate the instructive language that increases the student’s exposure to interesting vocabulary without leaving them in the dark. The kids get joy and fun along with the growth. Today my first grade class wrote some dialogue for a play and were all excited thanks to your troupe. Bravo!"


K/1 Teacher, Heritage Oak Elementary School, Roseville

And another take away from this touring group is that theatre can benefit in a learning environment to engage experience than learning from text books and repetition.

Truth!

A production that hit really close to home is Swine Palace's production of Rising Water. This production took me on an experience rather that create a new truth for me. I can relate to the the feeling and thought of water rising in my home after a hurricane or the possible thought of water rising in my home. And relate to the experience of not knowing what is going on outside while you wait thinking of the worst that can happen. Even though I didn't experience the disaster in the capacity of the production. I felt the reality of the events that were taking place by how the production was executed. I was involved in a production about race. LSU Theatre's Dionysus of the Holocaust  clarified a truth or rather a question. There is a scene in the play where the Caucases (white people) are dividing the gift of cultures. And the question that arrived was why is ask on a form your race or ethnicity in America? Why cant we just clarify simply American?   

As for the differences between performances that offer some kind of (new or newly clarified) truth versus performances that strive for documentary “verbatim” or naturalistic reality, I think that there is a difference in execution between the two but the idea of the two are the same. The reason why the ideas are the same is that both ideas are trying to present something that is part of reality. Verbatim is is using words to present the truth, and a performance that offers truth is presenting a truth within that performance. I clearly understand that a new or newly clarified truth and verbatim are the same. I really believe that truth lie with people, and what they hold as well as express.     

Comments

C1
O2
M3
M4
E5
N6
T7

Performativity!

At the top of this video there are young people having fun. Then the band starts to perform. First you would think that this band is a regular band performing for entertainment for the youth who have gathered there to have a good time. There is a underlying message of why this band is performing. As we here the lyrics there are not direct say of Jesus in the song but the song and the performance is all about Jesus. There are phases in the song that relate to the bible and what Jesus stands for. The band is not the only group performing but the youth are performing as an act of praise to God as they dance and sing the lyrics of the song.

I know when I was beginning my walk out as a "saved" christian. In my mind I  thought that I could not have fun because I was a christian after God hearts, and I had to have all these restrictions up which is so weird to me now, But as a young person that is what I wanted to do. And as I learned through my walk I found that I can have fun and this video definitely was a influence to be young and free. So this is another underlying message about being a Christian and loving Jesus.

People are looking at skin when through a UV camera but there is skin look different when they see themselves through the camera. At the end of the video people put on sunscreen and it's appears black which sunscreen's purpose is to protect you form the sun. But in the middle of video there is mention you can tell when people have healthy skin and those people are people of color.      

What is Performance?

"Certain distance between "self" and behavior" Is is fascinating how actors or someone performing can be oneself during a performance and the oneself outside the performance period. (pg 4, Carlson) I always was interested in how you can act to be another person and come back to yourself. This idea brought the thought of there must a place the actor goes to distance themselves to make their performance happen. They have to be fully aware of there distance and how far they can go. But there must me a point were the path stops and that leaded to the thought of how far is to far. Does it stop at personal morals, what can change inside of your true self, or to create a change or awareness during the performance. How far can performance go and how much can is represent. I think performance changes over time and over different subject matter.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj7MPPpd9yI 
The link above is a video journal made by a guy named Micheal. He posted this video as a journal for his doctor but it's his real thoughts and feelings but their are others watching not just his doctor. Is he performing something that distance himself from who he really is or he just being Micheal? But it is put on medium for viewing. This changes my way of seeing performance which concludes to the question of "What is performance?". But technically for me it varies across many things and comes down to what is performance to you.