A pragmatics of change: testing political theory in theatrical practice

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

This essay explores how change happens in the everyday experience of individuals and how dramatic and theatrical interventions may play a part in such change processes. It seeks to overcome the historical tendency in political theatre movements towards factionalism in a desire to promote a unitary model of change or specific dramatic technique. Instead, it seeks to capture the potential of practices in drama, theatre and performance to contribute to social change by finding ways of connecting aesthetically derived experience to the lived experience of change. It seeks to restore the agency of the spectator to our thinking about how performances might be used by their audiences as individuals seek to change their societies. The focus is, then, on a pragmatic approach to political performance, concentrating on the contributions it can make in any given situation.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationUnknown Host Publication
Publisherunpublished
Number of pages11
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 25 Jul 2010
EventIFTR World Congress: Cultures of Modernity - Munich, Germany
Duration: 25 Jul 2010 → …

Conference

ConferenceIFTR World Congress: Cultures of Modernity
Period25/07/10 → …

Keywords

  • political performance
  • change processes
  • theatre

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A pragmatics of change: testing political theory in theatrical practice'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this