One example that comes to mind when thinking of a disturbance in the theatre world, is the neutral mask performance we do in Nick Erickson's movement 2 class. We all go to the quad during mid-term week of the spring semester and perform the art of Neutral Mask. Then, we make our way to the middle of the quad and start flocking. Little by little the group separates into smaller flocks until everyone goes solo. The reason this works so well, is everyone's attention is grabbed by this strange "flash mob" happening. So then when we break off on our own, we have this false sense of security with the people in the quad. This allowed us to do/take/try things with complete strangers that no one in their right mind would let someone do if we didn't have the neutral mask on. I personally got to take someone's book bag, ride a bike, a longboard, a unicycle, climb a tree in somebody else's shoes, and many other unusual things I wouldn't normally get away with. We then finished by flocking together again and marched back to the MDA.
Something I have always wanted to do since my sophomore year here in 2012 that could be considered 21st century is performing an aerial silks routine in the enchanted forest, or a public area where there is a giant sturdy oak tree. It would be a change in pace, one, because it would be outside and the performance itself (being performed on a real tree) links with the audience being outside. And two, not only is it just a performance in the outdoors, but it is a performance in the outdoors using the outdoors at the same time.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Ostriches and Felonies!!
Back when I was a wee lad, I had the wonderful experience of being part of the show Eiffel Tower: Revisited. This play had just about everything. It was narrated by two men, a Mac and a PC, and consisted of an ensemble that played out the story as it was narrated. The central stage piece was a giant iPhone which all characters entered and exited from. This play also had dancers (the tweets), and a live twitter feed being projected on a giant screen throughout the whole play. Characters in the play including a lion, hunter, clown, general, photographer, and lets not forget the ostrich, all participated in tweeting as well. The play's general plot was to get the perfect tableau in which the photographer would add another character each time. Needless to say this play was very fun to be a part of and watch at the same time. However, as hilarious and enjoyable as it was, i didn't get much more out of it, other than it being my first show in college.
The show that has had the most impact on me was Brother Size. This play really hit home, as the main character went through a very similar sequence of events that I had just gone through. Although this play did have certain dream sequences that represented each character's relation to the african god they represented, it was very real to me in the sense of the hard life each one of them lived. It had a way of snapping me back to reality and helped me realize that I had to change my way of going about things, or else I would end up like Oshoosi who had to leave the country in order to escape prison. So, this play had a very true aspect to it, as the consequences of each action each character took was very realistic.
Whether there's a difference between newly clarified truth or documentary/naturalistic reality theatre is not as clear as it would seem. I would agree that there are different styles and approaches to an issue or story. However, to me, it all depends on the audience it pertains to, the story being told, and what that specific audience member gets out of it.
The show that has had the most impact on me was Brother Size. This play really hit home, as the main character went through a very similar sequence of events that I had just gone through. Although this play did have certain dream sequences that represented each character's relation to the african god they represented, it was very real to me in the sense of the hard life each one of them lived. It had a way of snapping me back to reality and helped me realize that I had to change my way of going about things, or else I would end up like Oshoosi who had to leave the country in order to escape prison. So, this play had a very true aspect to it, as the consequences of each action each character took was very realistic.
Whether there's a difference between newly clarified truth or documentary/naturalistic reality theatre is not as clear as it would seem. I would agree that there are different styles and approaches to an issue or story. However, to me, it all depends on the audience it pertains to, the story being told, and what that specific audience member gets out of it.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
HEADS UP!!! LOOK OUT!!!
These two phrases are more likely situational. So I might be treading the line of if they're performative or not. However, they did come to mind when I thought of the idea of saying something that means something else; or taking action to a command in result of the social understanding of what that command is.
For example: if someone were to shout out "Heads up!!" it most likely means something is falling from a higher elevation than the plane you are currently standing on. It doesn't even matter if you know the circumstances of what is happening or who actually said it. Your immediate reaction is going to try to move from your current spot to a, hopefully, safer place to avoid the danger. Or if you consider yourself to have enhanced skillz, DO A BARREL ROLE!!
What if we actually "obeyed" the command HEADS UP!!? If someone were to hear this shouted and took the command literally, one would simply raise there head up and look to the sky to be hit or smacked by the probably dangerous object (be it a baseball, wrench, or piano) and then receive consequences resulting in a bump on the head, serious injury, or even death.
The same concept goes for "LOOK OUT!!!" If someone says "Look out!", they most probably don't want you to actually stop what your doing and look for the incoming potential danger, but rather get down, duck, or get behind something.
Here's where these two phrases have the potential to be performative. If society accepts "Heads up!" and "Look out!" as warning signs/a command to move your butt, then couldn't someone shout these phrases solely to get a reaction out of innocent by standers or even test people to see if they react, or what actions they take?
For example: Back in my younger years when I was a junior in high school, whenever I would take a ride with my friends we would play a game. I would sit in the passenger seat as my friend drove, and we would usually have one or two people sitting in the back. I would then role down the window and shout to pedestrians on the sidewalk "LOOK OUT!!!" Not once did anyone actually stop and look for something as I instructed, but rather they would jump left or right, or do a 180 to face the non-existent threat I had just created.
So, in conclusion, because I had an audience (my friends in the back and my driver), and I knew I could get a reaction out of a complete stranger based on social norms, I believe "Heads up!" and "Look out!" to be potential performative utterances/acts.
For example: if someone were to shout out "Heads up!!" it most likely means something is falling from a higher elevation than the plane you are currently standing on. It doesn't even matter if you know the circumstances of what is happening or who actually said it. Your immediate reaction is going to try to move from your current spot to a, hopefully, safer place to avoid the danger. Or if you consider yourself to have enhanced skillz, DO A BARREL ROLE!!
What if we actually "obeyed" the command HEADS UP!!? If someone were to hear this shouted and took the command literally, one would simply raise there head up and look to the sky to be hit or smacked by the probably dangerous object (be it a baseball, wrench, or piano) and then receive consequences resulting in a bump on the head, serious injury, or even death.
The same concept goes for "LOOK OUT!!!" If someone says "Look out!", they most probably don't want you to actually stop what your doing and look for the incoming potential danger, but rather get down, duck, or get behind something.
Here's where these two phrases have the potential to be performative. If society accepts "Heads up!" and "Look out!" as warning signs/a command to move your butt, then couldn't someone shout these phrases solely to get a reaction out of innocent by standers or even test people to see if they react, or what actions they take?
For example: Back in my younger years when I was a junior in high school, whenever I would take a ride with my friends we would play a game. I would sit in the passenger seat as my friend drove, and we would usually have one or two people sitting in the back. I would then role down the window and shout to pedestrians on the sidewalk "LOOK OUT!!!" Not once did anyone actually stop and look for something as I instructed, but rather they would jump left or right, or do a 180 to face the non-existent threat I had just created.
So, in conclusion, because I had an audience (my friends in the back and my driver), and I knew I could get a reaction out of a complete stranger based on social norms, I believe "Heads up!" and "Look out!" to be potential performative utterances/acts.
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