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A Distinct Society Theatreworks: Exploring the Power of Theatre in Shaping Social Narratives
Author: Dr. Anya Sharma, Professor of Theatre and Performance Studies, University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Sharma has over 20 years of experience in researching and teaching the intersection of theatre, society, and social change. Her publications include Staging Dissent: Theatre and Social Activism in the 21st Century and numerous articles on the subject of theatre's role in community building.
Publisher: Routledge, a leading academic publisher known for its high-quality publications in the humanities and social sciences. Routledge has a strong reputation for rigorous peer-review processes and its commitment to publishing cutting-edge research.
Editor: Professor David Miller, Head of the Department of Drama, University of Oxford. Professor Miller is a renowned expert in contemporary theatre practice and its socio-political implications. He has extensive experience editing academic journals and books on performance studies.
Keywords: a distinct society theatreworks, theatre and society, social commentary, community theatre, theatrical performance, social change, performance art, dramatic arts, societal impact, cultural representation
1. Defining "A Distinct Society Theatreworks"
The term "a distinct society theatreworks" encompasses theatrical productions and organizations that actively engage with specific social contexts and communities to create impactful and relevant performances. This is not simply theatre about society; it's theatre of and for a particular society, reflecting its unique challenges, triumphs, and cultural narratives. A distinct society theatreworks prioritizes representation, inclusivity, and engagement, moving beyond entertainment to actively contribute to social dialogue and even social change. These works often use innovative forms and methods, challenging traditional theatrical structures and engaging audiences in new ways. The key differentiator is the deep connection between the theatre group, the performance, and a specific societal group or issue.
2. The Significance of "A Distinct Society Theatreworks"
The significance of a distinct society theatreworks lies in its ability to amplify marginalized voices and perspectives. Theatre has historically been a powerful tool for social commentary, challenging established norms and fostering critical thinking. A distinct society theatreworks leverages this power by focusing on specific communities and their experiences, giving a voice to those who might otherwise be unheard. This includes communities facing systemic oppression, such as racial minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and low-income communities. By centering their narratives, a distinct society theatreworks helps to build empathy, understanding, and social cohesion.
Furthermore, a distinct society theatreworks can foster social change by raising awareness of critical social issues. Through powerful storytelling and evocative performances, these works can inspire action and mobilize communities to address systemic inequalities. They provide a platform for dialogue, allowing audiences to grapple with complex issues and challenge their own preconceptions. This can lead to concrete changes in policy, attitudes, and behavior, thereby contributing to a more just and equitable society.
3. Methods and Approaches of "A Distinct Society Theatreworks"
A distinct society theatreworks employs various methods to achieve its goals. These include:
Participatory Theatre: This involves actively engaging community members in the creation and performance of the theatre work. This ensures authentic representation and builds ownership within the community.
Forum Theatre: This interactive approach invites audience members to participate in the performance, suggesting alternative actions and solutions to the problems presented on stage.
Documentary Theatre: This style uses factual accounts and interviews to tell stories based on real-life events and social issues.
Devised Theatre: This collaborative approach brings together actors, writers, and community members to create a performance organically, drawing from their collective experiences and perspectives.
Community-Based Theatre: This form of theatre is rooted in a specific community and involves the community in all aspects of the production, from script development to performance.
4. Case Studies of Successful "A Distinct Society Theatreworks"
Numerous examples illustrate the power of a distinct society theatreworks. For instance, the work of Augusto Boal and his Theatre of the Oppressed demonstrates the transformative potential of participatory theatre in empowering marginalized communities and facilitating social change. Similarly, many community-based theatre groups across the globe use theatre to address issues of poverty, inequality, and violence, fostering community cohesion and promoting social justice. Specific examples within particular communities – such as indigenous theatre groups preserving cultural heritage or prison theatre programs promoting rehabilitation – highlight the diversity and impact of this approach.
The success of a distinct society theatreworks often lies in its deep engagement with the community it serves. This requires understanding the community's context, its challenges, and its aspirations. It involves building trust and fostering collaborative relationships. It requires a commitment to authentic representation and a willingness to challenge power structures.
5. Challenges and Limitations of "A Distinct Society Theatreworks"
Despite its immense potential, a distinct society theatreworks faces various challenges. Securing funding can be difficult, especially for smaller, community-based organizations. Finding and training skilled artists who are committed to social justice is also crucial. Navigating complex community dynamics and balancing artistic vision with community needs can require considerable sensitivity and skill. Furthermore, achieving lasting social impact necessitates ongoing engagement with the community and sustained dialogue beyond the performance itself. The potential for misrepresentation or appropriation of community narratives also necessitates careful consideration and community collaboration at every stage of the process.
6. The Future of "A Distinct Society Theatreworks"
The future of a distinct society theatreworks is bright, particularly with the increasing recognition of theatre's role in addressing social issues. Technological advancements, such as online platforms and virtual reality, offer new avenues for reaching wider audiences and engaging with communities in innovative ways. The growing emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion within the arts sector is also fostering greater opportunities for marginalized communities to create and share their stories. However, continued commitment to supporting community-based organizations and developing ethical and culturally sensitive practices will be crucial for ensuring the continued growth and impact of a distinct society theatreworks.
7. Conclusion
A distinct society theatreworks plays a vital role in shaping social narratives and fostering positive change. By centering the voices and experiences of specific communities, it amplifies marginalized perspectives, promotes critical thinking, and inspires action. While challenges exist, the potential of a distinct society theatreworks to build empathy, understanding, and social cohesion makes it a crucial element in contemporary theatre and a powerful force for social justice. Its ongoing evolution, fueled by innovation and a commitment to community engagement, promises a future where theatre serves as an effective instrument of social transformation.
FAQs
1. What is the difference between community theatre and a distinct society theatreworks? While community theatre often involves local participation, a distinct society theatreworks focuses specifically on addressing social issues relevant to a particular community or group, often with a clear goal of social change.
2. How can I support a distinct society theatreworks? You can support these initiatives by attending performances, donating to organizations, volunteering your time, and spreading awareness of their work.
3. Are there ethical considerations involved in creating a distinct society theatreworks? Absolutely. Careful consideration of representation, avoiding appropriation, and engaging in genuine collaboration with the community are paramount.
4. How can a distinct society theatreworks measure its impact? Impact can be measured through audience feedback, community engagement metrics, media coverage, and documented social changes resulting from the production.
5. What role does technology play in a distinct society theatreworks? Technology allows for wider reach, virtual participation, and new forms of storytelling.
6. What are the challenges in securing funding for a distinct society theatreworks? Funding can be scarce due to the often niche nature of these productions and the difficulty in demonstrating ROI in traditional ways.
7. How can a distinct society theatreworks ensure its long-term sustainability? Sustainability requires diversified funding, community partnerships, training programs, and effective communication.
8. What are the key characteristics of a successful distinct society theatreworks? Authenticity, collaboration, strong community engagement, clear social goals, and artistic excellence.
9. How can a distinct society theatreworks avoid tokenism? Through genuine community partnership, inclusive creative processes, and a commitment to amplifying authentic voices.
Related Articles
1. "The Power of Participatory Theatre in Addressing Social Inequality": This article explores the effectiveness of participatory theatre methods in empowering marginalized communities and promoting social justice.
2. "Community-Based Theatre and its Impact on Urban Revitalization": This study examines how community-based theatre can contribute to the social and economic regeneration of urban areas.
3. "Staging Social Change: A Case Study of [Specific Theatre Group's] Work": This article provides an in-depth analysis of a specific theatre group's approach to social change through theatre.
4. "The Role of Theatre in Promoting Intercultural Dialogue and Understanding": This article explores the potential of theatre to bridge cultural divides and foster empathy between different groups.
5. "Documentary Theatre and its Ethical Considerations": This article examines the ethical challenges involved in creating and presenting documentary theatre based on real-life events.
6. "Devised Theatre and Community Participation: A Collaborative Approach to Storytelling": This article investigates the benefits of devised theatre as a tool for empowering communities and fostering creative expression.
7. "Theatre for Social Change: A Global Perspective": This article provides a comparative overview of different approaches to social change through theatre in various parts of the world.
8. "The Challenges of Funding Community-Based Theatre Initiatives": This article analyzes the funding landscape for community-based theatre and suggests strategies for securing financial support.
9. "Assessing the Impact of Theatre on Social Attitudes and Behaviors": This research-based article examines how theatre can influence audience attitudes and behavior regarding social issues.
a distinct society theatreworks: The Book of Will Lauren Gunderson, 2018-06-18 Without William Shakespeare, we wouldn’t have literary masterpieces like Romeo and Juliet. But without Henry Condell and John Heminges, we would have lost half of Shakespeare’s plays forever! After the death of their friend and mentor, the two actors are determined to compile the First Folio and preserve the words that shaped their lives. They’ll just have to borrow, beg, and band together to get it done. Amidst the noise and color of Elizabethan London, THE BOOK OF WILL finds an unforgettable true story of love, loss, and laughter, and sheds new light on a man you may think you know. |
a distinct society theatreworks: Theatrical Worlds (Beta Version) Charles Mitchell, 2014 From the University of Florida College of Fine Arts, Charlie Mitchell and distinguished colleagues form across America present an introductory text for theatre and theoretical production. This book seeks to give insight into the people and processes that create theater. It does not strip away the feeling of magic but to add wonder for the artistry that make a production work well. -- Open Textbook Library. |
a distinct society theatreworks: Digital Theatre Nadja Masura, 2020-10-21 Digital Theatre is a rich and varied art form evolving between performing bodies gathered together in shared space and the ever-expanding flexible reach of the digital technology that shapes our world. This book explores live theatre performances which incorporate video projection, animation, motion capture and triggering, telematics and multisite performance, robotics, VR, and AR. Through examples from practitioners like George Coates, the Gertrude Stein Repertory Theatre, Troika Ranch, David Saltz, Mark Reaney, The Builder’s Association, and ArtGrid, a picture emerges of how and why digital technology can be used to effectively create theatre productions matching the storytelling and expressive needs of today’s artists and audiences. It also examines how theatre roles such as director, actor, playwright, costumes, and set are altered, and how ideas of body, place, and community are expanded. |
a distinct society theatreworks: Theatre Histories Bruce McConachie, Tobin Nellhaus, Carol Fisher Sorgenfrei, Tamara Underiner, 2016-02-26 This thoroughly revised and updated third edition of the innovative and widely acclaimed Theatre Histories: An Introduction offers a critical overview of global theatre and drama, spanning a broad wealth of world cultures and periods. Bringing together a group of scholars from a diverse range of backgrounds to add fresh perspectives on the history of global theatre, the book illustrates historiographical theories with case studies demonstrating various methods and interpretive approaches. Subtly restructured sections place the chapters within new thematic contexts to offer a clear overview of each period, while a revised chapter structure offers accessibility for students and instructors. Further new features and key updates to this third edition include: A dedicated chapter on historiography New, up to date, case studies Enhanced and reworked historical, cultural and political timelines, helping students to place each chapter within the historical context of the section Pronunciation guidance, both in the text and as an online audio guide, to aid the reader in accessing and internalizing unfamiliar terminology A new and updated companion website with further insights, activities and resources to enable students to further their knowledge and understanding of the theatre. |
a distinct society theatreworks: A Perfect Ganesh Terrence McNally, 1994 Two outwardly unremarkable, middle-aged lady friends throw themselves into a rousing tour of India, each one having her own secret dreams of what the fabled land of intoxicating opposites will do for the suffering she hides within ...--Page 4 of cover. |
a distinct society theatreworks: Max Makes a Million Maira Kalman, 2017-09-12 Max’s dream is to live in Paris and be a poet. But do you think it is easy for a dog to pack a small brown suitcase, put on a beret, and hop on a plane? Ha! No one will buy Max’s poems, so without money he must stay put. But living in New York City isn’t so bad. Where else could he have friends like Bruno, with his invisible paintings, or Marcello, who builds upside down houses? And where else could he drop in at Baby Henry’s Candy Shop? It’s all possible in New York, a jumping jazzy city. And for Max, it’s a dog’s life that only Maira Kalman could invent. |
a distinct society theatreworks: There's a Place For Us: The Musical Theatre Works of Leonard Bernstein Helen Smith, 2017-07-05 Leonard Bernstein was the quintessential American musician. Through his careers as conductor, pianist, teacher and television personality he became known across the US and the world, his flamboyance and theatricality making him a favourite with audiences, if not with critics. However, he is perhaps best remembered as a composer, particularly of the musical West Side Story, and for songs such as 'America', 'Tonight' and 'Somewhere'. Dr Helen Smith takes an in-depth look at all eight of Bernstein's musical theatre works, from the early On the Town written by the 26-year-old composer at the start of his career, to his second and last opera A Quiet Place in 1983; in between these two pieces he composed music for Trouble in Tahiti, Wonderful Town, Candide, West Side Story, Mass and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. These works are analysed and considered against a background of musical and social context, as well as looking at Bernstein's other orchestral, choral and chamber works. One important aspect examined is Bernstein's use of motifs in his theatre compositions, which takes them out of the realms of Broadway and into the sphere of symphonic writing. Smith provides an indispensable overview of the musical theatre works of an eclectic composer, and shows what it is that constitutes the Bernstein 'sound'. |
a distinct society theatreworks: Rhapsody For The Theatre Alain Badiou, 2013-09-10 For Alain Badiou, theatre—unlike cinema—is the place for the staging of a truly emancipatory collective subject. In this sense theatre is, of all the arts, the one strictly homologous to politics: both theatre and politics depend on a limited set of texts or statements, collectively enacted by a group of actors or militants, which put a limit on the excessive power of the state. This explains why the history of theatre has always been inseparable from a history of state repression and censorship. This definitive collection includes not only Badiou’s pamphlet Rhapsody for the Theatre but also essays on Jean-Paul Sartre, on the political destiny of contemporary theatre, and on Badiou’s own work as a playwright, as author of the Ahmed Tetralogy. |
a distinct society theatreworks: Music Theatre in a Changing Society Unesco, International Music Council, International Music Centre, 1968 |
a distinct society theatreworks: Postdramatic Theatre Hans-Thies Lehmann, 2006-09-27 Newly adapted for the Anglophone reader, this is an excellent translation of Hans-Thies Lehmann’s groundbreaking study of the new theatre forms that have developed since the late 1960s, which has become a key reference point in international discussions of contemporary theatre. In looking at the developments since the late 1960s, Lehmann considers them in relation to dramatic theory and theatre history, as an inventive response to the emergence of new technologies, and as an historical shift from a text-based culture to a new media age of image and sound. Engaging with theoreticians of 'drama' from Aristotle and Brecht, to Barthes and Schechner, the book analyzes the work of recent experimental theatre practitioners such as Robert Wilson, Tadeusz Kantor, Heiner Müller, the Wooster Group, Needcompany and Societas Raffaello Sanzio. Illustrated by a wealth of practical examples, and with an introduction by Karen Jürs-Munby providing useful theoretical and artistic contexts for the book, Postdramatic Theatre is an historical survey expertly combined with a unique theoretical approach which guides the reader through this new theatre landscape. |
a distinct society theatreworks: Handel's Oratorios and Eighteenth-Century Thought Ruth Smith, 1995-05-04 In this wide-r anging and challenging book, Ruth Smith claims that the words to Handel's oratorios reflect the events and ideas of their time and have far greater meaning than has hitherto been realised. She explores eighteenth-century literature, music, aesthetics, politics and religion to reveal Handel's texts as conduits for the thought and sensibility of their time. The book thus enriches our understanding of Handel, his times, and the close relationship between music and its intellectual contexts. |
a distinct society theatreworks: Music, Theatre and Politics in Germany Nikolaus Bacht, 2006 Music, theatre and politics have maintained a long-standing relationship that continues to be strong. The contributions in this volume bridge the conventional chronological division between 'late Romantic' and 'modern' music to thematize a wide array of i |
a distinct society theatreworks: Selected Plays of Stan Lai Stan Lai, 2022-02-24 Bringing the iconic plays of Stan Lai to an English-language readership |
a distinct society theatreworks: Blood Done Sign My Name Timothy B. Tyson, 2007-12-18 The “riveting”* true story of the fiery summer of 1970, which would forever transform the town of Oxford, North Carolina—a classic portrait of the fight for civil rights in the tradition of To Kill a Mockingbird *Chicago Tribune On May 11, 1970, Henry Marrow, a twenty-three-year-old black veteran, walked into a crossroads store owned by Robert Teel and came out running. Teel and two of his sons chased and beat Marrow, then killed him in public as he pleaded for his life. Like many small Southern towns, Oxford had barely been touched by the civil rights movement. But in the wake of the killing, young African Americans took to the streets. While lawyers battled in the courthouse, the Klan raged in the shadows and black Vietnam veterans torched the town’s tobacco warehouses. Tyson’s father, the pastor of Oxford’s all-white Methodist church, urged the town to come to terms with its bloody racial history. In the end, however, the Tyson family was forced to move away. Tim Tyson’s gripping narrative brings gritty blues truth and soaring gospel vision to a shocking episode of our history. FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD “If you want to read only one book to understand the uniquely American struggle for racial equality and the swirls of emotion around it, this is it.”—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel “Blood Done Sign My Name is a most important book and one of the most powerful meditations on race in America that I have ever read.”—Cleveland Plain Dealer “Pulses with vital paradox . . . It’s a detached dissertation, a damning dark-night-of-the-white-soul, and a ripping yarn, all united by Tyson’s powerful voice, a brainy, booming Bubba profundo.”—Entertainment Weekly “Engaging and frequently stunning.”—San Diego Union-Tribune |
a distinct society theatreworks: The Death of Tintagiles, a Play Maurice Maeterlinck, 1914 |
a distinct society theatreworks: Theatre, activism, subjectivity Bishnupriya Dutt, Silvija Jestrovic, 2024-07-09 Through the lens of performance and politics, this collection zooms in on the context-specific dimensions, analogies, and micro-histories of the Left to better understand the larger picture. It proposes a search for the Left not from totalising Leftist ideological positions and partisan politics but from ethical dimensions through smaller-scale Left-leaning struggles; not from the political to the aesthetic, but from the potentiality of art to offer new political imagination and critique; not from the individual subordinated to the collective, but from the dialectics of subjectivity and collectivity. This is not an attempt at a sweeping global overview of Leftist cultures either, but a collection that brings together culture-specific and comparative perspectives. This book searches for fragments of and on the Left, past and present, through which to rethink and patch a fragmented world. |
a distinct society theatreworks: A Formalist Theatre Michael Kirby, 2011-06-07 Michael Kirby presents a penetrating look a theater theory and analysis. His approach is analytically comprehensive and flexible, and nonevaluative. Case studies demonstrate this unique approach and record performances that otherwise would be lost. |
a distinct society theatreworks: Real Theatre Paul Rae, 2019 Draws on musicals, plays and experimental performances to show what theatre is made of and how we experience it. |
a distinct society theatreworks: Finnegan's Farewell Kevin Alexander, Chuck Santoro, 2001 |
a distinct society theatreworks: The Twentieth Century Performance Reader Teresa Brayshaw, Noel Witts, 2013-10-01 The Twentieth-Century Performance Reader has been the key introductory text to all types of performance for over fifteen years. Extracts from over fifty practitioners, critics and theorists from the fields of dance, drama, music, theatre and live art form an essential sourcebook for students, researchers and practitioners. This carefully revised third edition offers focus on contributions from the world of music, and also privileges the voices of practitioners themselves ahead of more theoretical writing. A bestseller since its original publication in 1996, this new edition has been expanded to include contributions from: Bobby Baker; Joseph Beuys; Rustom Bharucha; Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker; Hanns Eisler; Karen Finley; Philip Glass; Guillermo Gómez-Peña; Matthew Goulish; Martha Graham; Wassily Kandinsky; Jacques Lecoq; Hans-Thies Lehmann; George Maciunas; Ariane Mnouchkine; Meredith Monk; Lloyd Newson; Carolee Schneemann; Gertrude Stein; Bill Viola. Each extract is fully supplemented by a contextual summary, a biography of the writer, and suggestions for further reading. The volume’s alphabetical structure invites the reader to compare and cross-reference major writings on all types of performance outside of the constraints and simplifications of genre, encouraging cross-disciplinary understandings. All who engage with live, innovative performance, and the interplay of radical ideas, will find this collection invaluable. |
a distinct society theatreworks: World Theories of Theatre Glenn A. Odom, 2017-06-26 World Theories of Theatre expands the horizons of theatrical theory beyond the West, providing the tools essential for a truly global approach to theatre. Identifying major debates in theatrical theory from around the world, combining discussions of the key theoretical questions facing theatre studies with extended excerpts from primary materials, specific primary materials, case studies and coverage of Southern Africa, the Caribbean, North Africa and the Middle East, Oceania, Latin America, East Asia, and India. The volume is divided into three sections: Theoretical questions, which applies cross-cultural perspectives to key issues from aesthetics to postcolonialism, interculturalism, and globalization. Cultural and literary theory, which is organised by region, presenting a range of theatrical theories in their historical and cultural context. Practical exercises, which provides a brief series of suggestions for physical exploration of these theoretical concepts. World Theories of Theatre presents fresh, vital ways of thinking about the theatre, highlighting the extraordinary diversity of approaches available to scholars and students of theatre studies. This volume includes theoretical excerpts from: Zeami Motokiyo Bharata Muni Wole Soyinka Femi Osofisan Uptal Dutt Saadallah Wannous Enrique Buenaventura Derek Walcott Werewere Liking Maryrose Casey Augusto Boal Tadashi Suzuki Jiao Juyin Oriza Hirata Gao Xingjian Roma Potiki Poile Sengupta |
a distinct society theatreworks: Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley Lauren Gunderson, Margot Melcon, 2017-09-29 A sequel to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice set two years after the novel ends, MISS BENNET continues the story, only this time with bookish middle-sister Mary as its unlikely heroine. Mary is growing tired of her role as dutiful middle sister in the face of her siblings’ romantic escapades. When the family gathers for Christmas at Pemberley, an unexpected guest sparks Mary’s hopes for independence, an intellectual match, and possibly even love. |
a distinct society theatreworks: Asking For It Louise O'Neill, 2016-04-05 Emma O'Donovan is eighteen, beautiful, and fearless. It's the beginning of summer in a quiet Irish town and tonight she and her friends have dressed to impress. Everyone is at the party, and all eyes are on Emma. The next morning Emma's parents discover her collapsed on the doorstop of their home, unconscious. She is disheveled, bleeding, and disoriented, looking as if she had been dumped there. To her distress, Emma can't remember what happened the night before. All she knows is that none of her friends will respond to her texts. At school, people turn away from her and whisper under their breath. Her mind may be a blank as far as the events of the previous evening, but someone has posted photos of it on Facebook under a fake account, Easy Emma--photos she will never be able to forget. As the photos go viral and a criminal investigation is launched, the community is thrown into tumult. The media descends, neighbors chose sides, and people from all over the world want to talk about her story. Everyone has something to say about Emma. Asking For It is a powerful story about the devastating effects of rape and public shaming, told through the awful experience of a young woman whose life is changed forever by an act of violence. |
a distinct society theatreworks: Southeast Asian Personalities of Chinese Descent Leo Suryadinata, 2012 This is a bold project recording the lives of a particular group of Southeast Asians. Most of the people whose biographies are included here have settled down in the ten countries that constitute the region. Each of them has either self-identified as Chinese or is comfortable to be known as someone of Chinese ancestry. There are also those who were born in China or elsewhere who came here to work and do business, including seeking help from others who have ethnic Chinese connections. With the political and economic conditions of the region in a great state of flux for the past two centuries, it is impossible to find consistency in the naming process. Confucius had stressed that correct names make for the best relationships. In this case, Professor Leo Suryadinata has been pursuing for decades the elusive goal of finding the right name to give to the large numbers of people who have, in one way or another, made their homes in, or made some difference to, Southeast Asia. I believe that, when he and his colleagues selected the biographies to be included here, they have taken a big step towards the rectification of identities for many leading personalities. In so doing, he has done us all a great service. - Professor Wang Gungwu, National University of Singapore |
a distinct society theatreworks: The Theatre of Robert Wilson Arthur Holmberg, 1996 The first comprehensive study of the leading American avant-garde theatre director Robert Wilson. |
a distinct society theatreworks: Sculpting in Time Andrey Tarkovsky, Kitty Hunter-Blair, 1989-04 A director reveals the original inspirations for his films, their history, his methods of work, and the problems of visual creativity |
a distinct society theatreworks: Acts of Authority/Acts of Resistance Nandi Bhatia, 2010-02-01 Despite its importance to literary and cultural texts of resistance, theater has been largely overlooked as a field of analysis in colonial and postcolonial studies. Acts of Authority/Acts of Resistance seeks to address that absence, as it uniquely views drama and performance as central to the practice of nationalism and anti-colonial resistance. Nandi Bhatia argues that Indian theater was a significant force in the struggle against oppressive colonial and postcolonial structures, as it sought to undo various schemes of political and cultural power through its engagement with subjects derived from mythology, history, and available colonial models such as Shakespeare. Bhatia's attention to local histories within a postcolonial framework places performance in a global and transcultural context. Drawing connections between art and politics, between performance and everyday experience, Bhatia shows how performance often intervened in political debates and even changed the course of politics. One of the first Western studies of Indian theater to link the aesthetics and the politics of that theater, Acts of Authority/Acts of Resistance combines in-depth archival research with close readings of dramatic texts performed at critical moments in history. Each chapter amplifies its themes against the backdrop of specific social conditions as it examines particular dramatic productions, from The Indigo Mirror to adaptations of Shakespeare plays by Indian theater companies, illustrating the role of theater in bringing nationalist, anticolonial, and gendered struggles into the public sphere. Nandi Bhatia is Associate Professor of English at the University of Western Ontario. |
a distinct society theatreworks: The Cambridge Companion to the Musical William A. Everett, Paul R. Laird, 2017-09-21 An expanded and updated edition of this acclaimed, wide-ranging survey of musical theatre in New York, London, and elsewhere. |
a distinct society theatreworks: South African Theatre Journal , 1998 |
a distinct society theatreworks: Intermedial Performance and Politics in the Public Sphere Katia Arfara, Aneta Mancewicz, Ralf Remshardt, 2018-06-05 This volume is a collection of scholarly articles and interviews with intermedial artists working with the concepts of public sphere at the intersection of aesthetics and politics. It explores the response of socially-engaged artistic practices to the current crisis in politics and media. It also critically examines urgent issues such as rampant nationalism and populism, expanding neoliberalism, the refugee crisis, growing inosculations of corporate and cyber culture, and the ongoing geopolitical changes in the Middle East. Can intermedial performances reflect the present artistic and political dilemmas in Europe and beyond? The collection provides theoretical frameworks that interrogate the role that spectators as citizens can play in our mediatized world while focusing on the functions of immersion, participation, and civic engagement in contemporary performance and society. The collection provides analyses by international scholars from Europe, Asia, and the USA, covering global performance created in the twenty-first century. It also introduces interviews with internationally acclaimed intermedial artists and companies such as BERLIN, Rimini Protokoll, Dries Verhoeven, Akira Takayama, and Kris Verdonck. |
a distinct society theatreworks: Miss You Like Hell Quiara Alegría Hudes, Erin McKeown, 2018-11-06 “This is a fresh take on the American road story, filled with people and ideas we rarely get to see onstage…It offers two seriously rich roles for women, each with important things worth singing about…Miss You Like Hell is a powerful example of what musicals do best: explore the unprotected border where individual needs and social issues intermix.” —Jesse Green, New York Times A troubled teenager and her estranged mother—an undocumented Mexican immigrant on the verge of deportation—embark on a road trip and strive to mend their frayed relationship along the way. Combined with the musical talent of Erin McKeown, Hudes artfully crafts a story of the barriers and the bonds of family, while also addressing the complexities of immigration in today’s America. |
a distinct society theatreworks: American Theatre , 2007 |
a distinct society theatreworks: The Routledge Companion to Performance Practitioners Franc Chamberlain, Bernadette Sweeney, 2020-08-16 The Routledge Companion to Performance Practitioners collects the outstanding biographical and production overviews of key theatre practitioners first featured in the popular Routledge Performance Practitioners series of guidebooks. Each of the chapters is written by an expert on a particular figure, from Stanislavsky and Brecht to Laban and Decroux, and places their work in its social and historical context. Summaries and analyses of their key productions indicate how each practitioner's theoretical approaches to performance and the performer were manifested in practice. All 22 practitioners from the original series are represented, with this volume covering those born after 1915. This is the definitive first step for students, scholars and practitioners hoping to acquaint themselves with the leading names in performance, or deepen their knowledge of these seminal figures. |
a distinct society theatreworks: The Poetics of Aristotle Aristotle, 2017-03-07 In it, Aristotle offers an account of what he calls poetry (a term which in Greek literally means making and in this context includes drama - comedy, tragedy, and the satyr play - as well as lyric poetry and epic poetry). They are similar in the fact that they are all imitations but different in the three ways that Aristotle describes: 1. Differences in music rhythm, harmony, meter and melody. 2. Difference of goodness in the characters. 3. Difference in how the narrative is presented: telling a story or acting it out. In examining its first principles, Aristotle finds two: 1) imitation and 2) genres and other concepts by which that of truth is applied/revealed in the poesis. His analysis of tragedy constitutes the core of the discussion. Although Aristotle's Poetics is universally acknowledged in the Western critical tradition, almost every detail about his seminal work has aroused divergent opinions. |
a distinct society theatreworks: Signs of Performance Colin Counsell, 2013-10-11 Signs of Performance provides the beginning student with working examples of theatrical analysis. Its range covers the whole of twentieth century theatre, from Stanislavski to Brecht and Samuel Beckett to Robert Wilson. Colin Counsell takes an historical look at theatre as a cultural practice, clearly tracing connections between: * Key practitioners' ideas about performance * The theatrical practices prompted by those ideas * The resulting signs which emerge in performance * The meanings and political consequences of those signs It provides an understandable theoretical framework for the study of theatre as a an signifying practice, and offers vivid explanations in clear, direct language. It opens up this fascinating field to a broad audience. |
a distinct society theatreworks: Joint Stock and the Staging of Dialogism David Alan Williams, 1998 |
a distinct society theatreworks: The Singapore Trilogy Robert Yeo, 2001 Patriotism: do you have it? How does one express it? Is it worth it? The Singapore Trilogy—consisting of Are You There, Singapore?, One Year Back Home and Changi—has raised questions since the seventies about nationhood that we are still asking today. Influential in steering early English-language theatre in Singapore away from its colonial roots, Robert Yeo conceived of characters that are believably local in speech, thought and behaviour, and provided a dramatic platform for the dialogue of politically sensitive issues. Yeo’s trilogy continues to link to an exciting time of sociopolitical flux in Singapore’s history, and engages by provoking us to explore the meaning of being Singaporean. This edition of these three landmark playscripts is accompanied by a new introduction from the playwright, as well as a reappraisal by Nah Dominic and Adeeb Fazah, who restaged the entire trilogy in one single condensed adaptation in March 2021. |
a distinct society theatreworks: Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation Octavia E. Butler, 2020-01-28 2021 Hugo Award Winner for Best Graphic Story or Comic The follow-up to #1 New York Times Bestseller Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, comes Octavia E. Butler’s groundbreaking dystopian novel In this graphic novel adaptation of Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower by Damian Duffy and John Jennings, the award-winning team behind Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, the author portrays a searing vision of America’s future. In the year 2024, the country is marred by unattended environmental and economic crises that lead to social chaos. Lauren Olamina, a preacher’s daughter living in Los Angeles, is protected from danger by the walls of her gated community. However, in a night of fire and death, what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: a startling vision of human destiny . . . and the birth of a new faith. |
a distinct society theatreworks: Seventeenth-century Oxford Nicholas Tyacke, 1997 Volume IV of the magisterial History of the University of Oxford covers the seventeenth century, a period when both institutionally and intellectually the University was expanding. Oxford and its University, moreover, had a major role to play in the tumultuous religious and political eventsof the century: the Civil War, the Commonwealth, the Restoration. In this volume, leading experts in several fields combine to present a comprehensive and authoritative analysis and overview of the rich pattern of intellectual, political, and cultural life in seventeenth-century Oxford. |
a distinct society theatreworks: The Canadian Encyclopedia James H. Marsh, 1999 This edition of The Canadian Encyclopedia is the largest, most comprehensive book ever published in Canada for the general reader. It is COMPLETE: every aspect of Canada, from its rock formations to its rock bands, is represented here. It is UNABRIDGED: all of the information in the four red volumes of the famous 1988 edition is contained here in this single volume. It has been EXPANDED: since 1988 teams of researchers have been diligently fleshing out old entries and recording new ones; as a result, the text from 1988 has grown by 50% to over 4,000,000 words. It has been UPDATED: the researchers and contributors worked hard to make the information as current as possible. Other words apply to this extraordinary work of scholarship: AUTHORITATIVE, RELIABLE and READABLE. Every entry is compiled by an expert. Equally important, every entry is written for a Canadian reader, from the Canadian point of view. The finished work - many years in the making, and the equivalent of forty average-sized books - is an extraordinary storehouse of information about our country. This book deserves pride of place on the bookshelf in every Canadian Home. It is no accident that the cover of this book is based on the Canadian flag. For the proud truth is that this volume represents a great national achievement. From its formal inception in 1979, this encyclopedia has always represented a vote of faith in Canada; in Canada as a separate place whose natural worlds and whose peoples and their achievements deserve to be recorded and celebrated. At the start of a new century and a new millennium, in an increasingly borderless corporate world that seems ever more hostile to nationaldistinctions and aspirations, this Canadian Encyclopedia is offered in a spirit of defiance and of faith in our future. The statistics behind this volume are staggering. The opening sixty pages list the 250 Consultants, the roughly 4,000 Contributors (all experts in the field they describe) and the scores of researchers, editors, typesetters, proofreaders and others who contributed their skills to this massive project. The 2,640 pages incorporate over 10,000 articles and over 4,000,000 words, making it the largest - some might say the greatest - Canadian book ever published. There are, of course, many special features. These include a map of Canada, a special page comparing the key statistics of the 23 major Canadian cities, maps of our cities, a variety of tables and photographs, and finely detailed illustrations of our wildlife, not to mention the colourful, informative endpapers. But above all the book is encyclopedic - which the Canadian Oxford Dictionary describes as embracing all branches of learning. This means that (with rare exceptions) there is satisfaction for the reader who seeks information on any Canadian subject. From the first entry A mari usque ad mare - from sea to sea (which is Canada's motto, and a good description of this volume's range) to the Zouaves (who mustered in Quebec to fight for the beleaguered Papacy) there is the required summary of information, clearly and accurately presented. For the browser the constant variety of entries and the lure of regular cross-references will provide hours of fasination. The word encyclopedia derives from Greek expressions alluding to a grand circle of knowledge. Our knowledge has expandedimmeasurably since the time that one mnd could encompass all that was known.Yet now Canada's finest scientists, academics and specialists have distilled their knowledge of our country between the covers of one volume. The result is a book for every Canadian who values learning, and values Canada. |
DISTINCT Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of DISTINCT is distinguishable to the eye or mind as being discrete or not the same : separate. How to use distinct in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Distinct.
SQL SELECT DISTINCT Statement - W3Schools
The SQL SELECT DISTINCT Statement. The SELECT DISTINCT statement is used to return only distinct (different) values.
DISTINCT | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
DISTINCT definition: 1. clearly noticeable; that certainly exists: 2. clearly separate and different (from something…. Learn more.
DISTINCT Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
The adjective distinct is used to describe things that are clearly distinguished from others. How does distinct compare to synonyms different, various, and diverse? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Distinct - definition of distinct by The Free Dictionary
Readily distinguishable from all others; discrete: on two distinct occasions. 2. Easily perceived by the senses: a distinct flavor. 3. Clearly defined; unquestionable: at a distinct disadvantage.
distinct adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...
Definition of distinct adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
distinct - definition and meaning - Wordnik
Clearly distinguishable by sense; that may be plainly perceived; well defined; not blurred or indeterminate: as, a distinct view of an object; distinct articulation; to make a distinct mark or …
Distinct - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
When something is distinct, it is easily identifiable or set apart from others of its kind. An eighth-grader who is six feet tall has a distinct advantage over the other kids on the basketball court.
DISTINCT definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
If something is distinct from something else of the same type, it is different or separate from it.
How to Use DISTINCT in SQL - LearnSQL.com
The DISTINCT clause is used in the SELECT statement to filter out duplicate rows in the result set. You can use DISTINCT when you select a single column, or when you select multiple columns as …
DISTINCT Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of DISTINCT is distinguishable to the eye or mind as being discrete or not the same : separate. How to use distinct in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Distinct.
SQL SELECT DISTINCT Statement - W3Schools
The SQL SELECT DISTINCT Statement. The SELECT DISTINCT statement is used to return only distinct (different) values.
DISTINCT | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
DISTINCT definition: 1. clearly noticeable; that certainly exists: 2. clearly separate and different (from something…. Learn more.
DISTINCT Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
The adjective distinct is used to describe things that are clearly distinguished from others. How does distinct compare to synonyms different, various, and diverse? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Distinct - definition of distinct by The Free Dictionary
Readily distinguishable from all others; discrete: on two distinct occasions. 2. Easily perceived by the senses: a distinct flavor. 3. Clearly defined; unquestionable: at a distinct disadvantage.
distinct adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...
Definition of distinct adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
distinct - definition and meaning - Wordnik
Clearly distinguishable by sense; that may be plainly perceived; well defined; not blurred or indeterminate: as, a distinct view of an object; distinct articulation; to make a distinct mark or …
Distinct - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
When something is distinct, it is easily identifiable or set apart from others of its kind. An eighth-grader who is six feet tall has a distinct advantage over the other kids on the basketball court.
DISTINCT definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
If something is distinct from something else of the same type, it is different or separate from it.
How to Use DISTINCT in SQL - LearnSQL.com
The DISTINCT clause is used in the SELECT statement to filter out duplicate rows in the result set. You can use DISTINCT when you select a single column, or when you select multiple …