As we prepare for our final presentations I can’t help but look back at all of the amazing things I have learned this semester. I must admit, compared to my other classes this one challenged me the most academically. As a result I was challenged the most intellectually. The plays, articles, videos, assignments and discussions all help to broaden my understanding of theatre. Moreover, I learned a lot about myself as a theatre practitioner this semester as a direct result of taking this class. After having taken this class I feel like I have the tools to be a conscious and responsible global theatre artist.
The most valuable thing I learned about myself this semester was how I had allowed my westernized theatre training to cloud how I looked at theatre. In a sense I valued only what I knew and dismissed what the world had to offer. By being exposed to so many other theatre styles, forms and texts in such a scholarly environment I was able to see the beauty, power and relevance of theatre from around the entire world.
The most valuable thing I learned overall in this class was that if I want to consider myself a global theatre artist I have to not only be knowledgeable about theatre from around the globe, but I have to be able to expand my understanding of people from around the globe. Theatre artists are very special people. We entertain the masses, challenge the institutions, and nurture the spirit all the while doing what we love. This class has taught me to value, appreciate, embrace and support theatre form all over the world making me, in my opinion, and global theatre artist!
2 comments:
I too felt this class was the most challenging academically, and my regret is that I was not able to fully dedicate my efforts to fulfilling the requests of the class. However, the benefits of experiencing exposure to the theatre forms and content of other areas around the globe is infinite... You cannot fully know how much you've gained from a class like this until you are a functioning artist in the world at large. I know that the tools and information gained from this course will surface again in my career, and I too have grown from the class. Theatre, at its core, is the medium in which change can be discussed, particularly social, and all people around the globe have a history and tradition of expression that could be deemed "Theatre." We, as actors, must respect these different forms, and in turn expand our knowledge and skills of expression. A global theatre is on the rise.
Gary and Conrad:
I usually scream from the rafters that MFA programs do performers a disservice by demanding a plethora of academic oriented courses. Constantly we are bombarded with comments that as actors we are "too in our head". I want to say, "Okay, but don't give me pages to read on esoteric theory if you wany me to get out of my head."
Now I believe that as artists we need and use both sides of our brain. The practice and training allows us to access the right side quickly when in the state of performance. The academic training allows us to understand the history, context, content, and psychology present in a performance project.
I probably came into this class kicking and screaming. I thought, "what a sorry attempt to appear more politically correct. Just throw all of 'world theatre' into a one semester class!" Now I am grateful for at least a survey of different performance and theatre styles that I may choose to use as an artist. I am also grateful that in the final we expolored the performance styles in practice. In the very least attempting performance style in practice provided a sense of ownership over the material we studied.
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