Devising As A Journey Of Exploration And Discovery Theatre Essay

Devising As A Journey Of Exploration And Discovery Theatre Essay Devising is a very fluid form of theatre. Taking inspirations from anywhere and everywhere, a devised performance can be in any form and on any topic. This style is in direct contrast to scripted theatre, where a text is laying out the plot, direction, characters and details of the final performance. Although there is freedom for a personal interpretation of the overall view and form of the piece, the rehearsals and performances are confined by what has already been decided by the playwright. But devising is unlimited, in which a company can produce a performance on any theme or topic, taking ideas from any part of life and producing something new and fresh †¦the precise nature of the end product [of devised theatre] is unknown. In conventional theatre, however, everyone knows the production is, for example, Shakespeares Hamlet from the outset. (Oddey, 7) An example of a devising piece is the recent Fairytale Mash-Up which I was involved in as an actor. For this our original stimulus was a collection of short fairytale stories, some of which were familiar and others were unknown to the group. On reading the stories we found them to be surprisingly gruesome, which was something that is not necessarily picked up when a fairytale is heard as a child, such as the butcher cutting off the girls feet in Red Shoes. This was an unexpected twist and was the main basis of the beginning of our idea, as we decided from the very start that the Fairy Godmother would be dead, and therefore would not make all dreams come true as is usually expected of this character. Already we had a new interpretation of a classic idea, but our own input had discovered a new alternative. As oak trees grow from small acorns (Greet, Why Devise) and all ideas must stem from somewhere, the actors within a devising group are responsible with feeding new ideas into the group to create more diversity within the piece. Through this an actor has the power to get what they individually want from the piece and therefore it becomes more personal for the actors. It becomes their piece in a deeper way than, for example, a Chekhov play would, as it is inspired by their own ideas and experiences. In the Mash-Up I personally wanted something from it, having not attempted a murder mystery before and having not explored the true possibilities within comedic theatre. Devising allows us, as actors, to explore ourselves, our possibilities and our limitations. Sarah Kane believed that if something could be imagined then there was a way of reproducing it on a stage, and with this in mind an actor can explore distant memories and fantastical stories in aid of a devised performance. As every human is unique and no two people have the same experiences, a devised company has a whole variety of stimulus that is previously unseen and unexplored by a public audience. In this, the not knowing is clear, as at the start of development of a piece nobody knows what will be their influences and stimuli, and this creates a feeling of excitement and in return provides energy for the piece. This, as a result, means inevitably every devised piece will always be original due to the fact that a different group of actors will provide different motivations, due to the contrasting relationships within the group. In the 1960s a group was formed called the People Show and their performances relied on the differences and conflict between individual artists within the group, which changed with every new shows situation, conditions and circumstances. Every show was a unique devising performance. (Oddey, 5-6) This company is an ideal representation of a devising company, as they are described as a group of individual artists in collaboration with each other, taking risks, having a sense of unknown at the start of the devising process (Oddey, 6). It is this risk-taking that is important to devising, as people need to lose their inhibitions for true inspiration and new ideas to form. Having worked with members of my group before there were connections for some, but others were new relationships that had to be built during the development process. A benefit of this was that fresh eyes on an actor would see a talent within them that had maybe not been explored before, that their closer friends would have overlooked as being too obvious. In this risks were taken, not all of which were successes but by doing rehearsals we allowed the freedom and non-judgement of an idea so that even if only a tiny aspect of it was used later, we made it so that actors would not fear having ideas rejected within the group. One of the main techniques within devising is improvisation, which in reality is the basis of most devised work. This is a spontaneous activity, and therefore allows freedom, as an actor is not tied down by any limits, there is no final destination laid out in advance and there is limited if any direction made. The actor can be in the moment, without having to concern his thoughts with the next moment: Nothing is fixed and absolute, it is in flux, what will the next moment be? (Bentley, 78) In improvisation the next moment is not important, it is about focusing on the current and feeling free to explore in the present without fear of the future. Not all improvisation goes well, and more than often it takes more than several tries to find something worth anything, which is why continued improvisation is vital for discovering new things, because if a company always goes with the first idea they limit themselves greatly where they should be free to pick and choose from many ideas. Addit ionally a benefit of devised work is that even a concept that has been weeks in processing can be dropped if needed something that is not so possible within scripted work. In our piece we swapped and changed characters as we felt needed one member was set to be the Fairy Godmother before this was changed weeks in, but it was discovered that this actually allowed the original actor to experience more, having been able to try out more than one character until she found one that would fit with what she wanted out of the devising experience. Additionally, original characters like a reclusive genie were dropped as we felt necessary, and in early stages we were regularly swapping characters until we found an option that gave everyone the best opportunities for themselves and for the group. WE toyed with the idea of simply picking out characters from a hat then performing as them or producing still images without discussing it, but this became more complicated as some were drawn more to a certain character and struggled with more obscure options. As time went on and the piece became more complex and structured, one group member produced poems which acted as monologues for all the different characters, so in time we found ourselves structuring scenes around these poems as more were produced. It was quite interesting combining improvisation with scripted work, as we could improvise and develop until we found a place where the poem fit, and once it was done we would improvise the end of the scene as well. This meant that we could feel sure that the scene would have a point but we would still have the freedom to play around the set information. Additionally, as all the scenes were flashbacks for various murder suspects, there was no set order for them to be in, so this also added the opportunity to play with different orders to study the flow of energy from one to another before finding the right arrangement. Oddey says how thinking on your feet allows the individual to respond to new ideas or thoughts spontaneously, to sense and react to others so that the interaction or combined operation often produces unknown or unseen fresh material. This is not to underestimate the value of or importance of group discussion, but to point out the danger of becoming preoccupied with talking (155) and this is definitely a significant point. In our group we found that discussion was best left until after trying out some free improvisation and even then it needed to be brief otherwise it became compressing. We gave ourselves strict time limits and this meant that there wasnt time to talk and added concentrated energy into a moment, which often created new and exciting results. Devising is also about exploring how common ideas and regular day-to-day things can be flipped on their head and transformed into brand new perspectives, thereby challenging our preconceptions. (DV8, Artistic Policy) Theatres priority is to get a message across or to make an audience feel something particular, and more than often this is done through opening their eyes to the obvious but unexpected. This is the use of the known rather than the not known but has just as much if not more of an impact on viewers. The forgotten and the ignored are just as important as the undiscovered and in fact these things make it more personal and an actors own memories or feelings have a real power to shape plot or characters. Additionally, using influences from outside of theatre is very important and often not considered. For Frantic Assembly neither of its artistic directors has a formal background in drama, theatre or dance. In creating work, the company relies on influences that lie, for the mo st part, outside the realm of theatre and its regular forms and practise. (Frantic, †¦uk/p110.html) For our work we were inspired greatly by the 2001 film Shrek and used nursery rhymes for development in one scene. By looking further than common theatre techniques and looking outside the box, we found more options for variety within the piece. The physical company DV8s focus of the creative approach is on reinventing†¦ with meaning, particularly where this has been lost through formalised techniques (Artistic Policy). Another skill in devising is the use of play and re-exploring our childish minds, though not pretending to play as a child, but rediscovering the intensity of focus we experience as children (Greet, Why Devise), as this removes inhibitions and helps to reintroduce the more fantastical creative imaginations we once had. Consequently it makes actors less fearful of bad ideas and therefore less afraid to be more outrageous and experimental. One can then look beyond self-perceived limitations (Frantic, †¦uk/p106.html) and find a more energetic side, which means that physical theatre is achieved much more easily. Even closing ones eyes makes judgement less threatening which provides opportunity for even more exploration. In devising, the aim is to produce brand new theatre that has not been seen before. We found in our company that we often did not know what would happen next; in fact the murderer was not decided until well into the rehearsal process. It made no sense to know the end before the beginning or middle, so we did not rush this decision. Our piece was not a search for knowledge, but for the unknown. (Barba, 5), so knowing the ending would have confined us and limited exploration, constantly distracted by the final message of the piece. Even if two companies did a performance of The Caucasian Chalk Circle for example, completely uninfluenced by each other, they would still be telling the same story. This is why for our piece we used well-known characters but then added a twist, such as Cinderella actually being an obsessive cleaner. By exploring all of our different possibilities we did discover new opportunities and new perspectives on theatre as a whole. The real discovery, however, comes at the end, when we watch it back and see what we have achieved from scratch, and finally acknowledge and notice how our own input has provided a brand new interpretation: Now we have made a journey in our own home. True travellers know this experience very well: the unknown world is discovered when one returns. (Barba, 146)

Art Appreciation: Romare Bearden

Therefore there is a rose in the painting as well I believe that is symbolizes the young lady worth. It appears someone was giving her a rose to make her feel better. The angel that appears in the painting symbolizes comfort, patience, protection, understanding, and others. Bearden painting symbolizes that the African American struggles were not a Joke. In those times it symbolizes that it was still racism going on ith our culture.We were losing our Jobs, because we had people fighting for our rights, girls that were at the age of twelve had to quit school because they had to help out in their homes. This painting symbolizes a lot of things that was going on in the early and late 1960's. As I said once before that the angel was there for many reasons as in comfort for the struggle, protection from the pain and destruction, understanding that there will be better times, and Jobs. Romare Bearden, Rocket to the Moon, 1971 to me is my favorite painting.It is really a collage fragments bu ild a scene of quiet despair and stoic perservance. You can see in the painting that the rocket is headed to moon; however, while urban life below remains punctuated by a red stop-light. The definition of Stoic is an ancient Greek school of philosophy that asserted that happiness can only be achieved by accepting life's up and downs. In this painting you have a lot of things that symbolizes the African American culture. The black cat represents the black panthers that were a group of an organization ith people who were fghting back for the black people.The picture of Martin Luther King Jr. symbolizes that he was involved in the Civil Rights Movement and he was an activist for the NAACP. I believe that this whole picture symbolizes the Harlem Renaissance that was going on in Harlem, New York. The Harlem Renaissance involves Langston Hughes, the different types of music, different type of dances, and different type of visual arts too. The Harlem Renaissance has brought African America n to Justice to say we have something we can abide to. I believe that the red ight symbolizes to stop the violence and stop the racism.I believe that the green light symbolizes to let's look at situations in a ditterent way than what the way we see them. Bearden makes an ironic statement, placing that we as African American has accomplished and still are making history every day. Bearden use a great visual statement placing America's accomplishments in space alongside the stalled social and economic progress of many urban areas. As I come to my conclusion, Bearden use his visual art to describe the past, present, and future.He symbolizes that in Prevalence of Ritual, Tidings, 1967, there was an angel to protect and comfort the young lady through whatever her case was. The rose symbolizes that she has a destiny and a worth. The present symbolizes that we have angels that surrounds us every day. We as women have rights and have a destiny that can be fulfilled if we Just hold fast to o ur dreams. The future reference is to hope for better days, we have rights to do such as vote, and to visual art to is extinct to express who we are , our success, and where we come from.

The Ultimate Solution for List of Social Justice Issues That You Can Learn About Today

The Ultimate Solution for List of Social Justice Issues That You Can Learn About Today Getting the Best List of Social Justice Issues The period justice usually means that folks are treated in accord with their deserts. Joshua Cohen disputes his claims based on how some poor nations have done well with the present institutional design. It's the gravest of all crimes in the opinion of the law. After all, you're using the laws framed by the founders of the usa, and those resonate with the concept that all men are made equal. It is essential to make sure that you implement social justice values in your household instead of just on the world wide web. On-line service providers that allow all types of user generated content are faced with assorted copyright infringement problems. Some databases also incorporate unredacted criminal investigative material which is not subject to public information laws. Even if a particular exception isn't met, the government may still restrain speech in many ways, based on the means utilized. Poverty results in inadequate healthcare which creates a larger burden of securing funds to pay for health treatments for the poor. Policy issues can relate to the medical insurance industry in the us too. Social justice doesn't always need to be about something which has a monumental scale, like obtaining a law passed by Congress. Social justice is all about the little individuals, not grand gestures. As a consequence, there's been disagreement in the interpretation of what conduct could lead to liability. In many instances, the harshness of the crime can land a defendant in the adult court system irrespective of age. It doesn't conduct investigations. There is not any evidence of targeting or some other impropriety related to his selection for testing. Classrooms can also offer time for collaboration toward a frequent objective. Students and teachers might even be inspired to begin their very own philanthropic cause! STEM education is critical for a wholesome economy. Comprehensive civics education is essential for a wholesome democracy. List of Social Justice Issues - the Story Small, courageous steps are able to make a difference! As opposed to just considering the person who has needs, social justice requires a step back to have a look at the social, political, or financial aspects which are affecting whole groups of men and women in crisis. The policies affecting social workers today can result in food deserts forming and people who are unable to afford to become sick. This fundamental freedom involves the right to distribute literature and go over a great number of viewseven views distasteful to the majority of people. Part of this relates to the individuals who grew to depend on those services while unemployed before, but in addition, it can relate to the absence of funding those services get and to the individuals using those services but don't require assist. Social workers in rural locations, therefore, must be ready for the distinctive environment they will face on a daily basis. Becoming mindful of the problems happening in the nation and the world and wanting to understand marginalized people is quite important. A woman in practically every nation in the world is disadvantaged by an international system of male privilege. The fact is that a man's experience isn't exactly like a woman's experience. Ethnocentrism is a system which elevates one particular culture above another, judging different groups as inferior dependent on the standards and values of an individual's own culture. For instance, if you find you've white privilege, you can find out the way you can bring issues of racial justice to the front part of the table in spaces that you've got access to that people of color may not. There's no limit to the notion of sharing. Being a real person of color doesn't indicate you've got the authority to talk on behalf of black people if you're a non-black person of color. The issue with using a comparison to determine value is the fact that it unquestionably assumes there is a value to be measured.

Sarah Cole A Type Of Love Story - 897 Words

In â€Å"Sarah Cole: A Type of Love Story†, Russell Banks uses story elements that are important to remember when writing a short story. He creates a unique character whose actions and comments are different from what he thinks. This create an internal conflict for the main character that is written in a seamless way that allows the reader to interpret Banks’s writing. This author is also capable of having one character with two distinct voices and only allowing those to bleed together when it mirrors the confusion that his characters feel within the story. Banks creates an ending that provides an explanation and answers any questions the reader may have, which is what a good ending should do. For a writer seeking new techniques to incorporate into their own writing, Banks provides many experienced examples. Something that Banks does that is very interesting is that he creates this conflict within his character Ron. This speaker repeatedly tells the reader that he does not find Sarah Cole, he makes a key point to clarify it often, but he continues this relationship with this women that he says he has no attraction for. Ron never states a reason why he wants a relationship with this woman. It may be that he was just seeking something different and Sarah was different because she happened to be an older, divorced, unattractive mother. She didn’t fit into his attractive, wealthy life. After his divorce, his inexplicable attraction to Sarah may have been just something to cope withShow MoreRelatedSarah Cole : a Type of Love Story2200 Words   |  9 PagesLewis English 1A 3 October 2012 Opposite ends of the same stick In â€Å"Sarah Cole: A Type of Love Story† by Russell Banks, the main character Ron believing himself to be so much more above the woman he once dated because of his great looks. Ron was a successful lawyer in the state of New Hampshire when he met a woman named Sarah Cole. 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