We finally were able to present our Mini Theorist Presentation and here are my reflections:
Boal
For my own presentation, I did Augusto Boal, which I did not know anything about. I learned many things about Boal's theories, which were mostly methods of improvisation. I had already discussed my initial impression of him, along with his ideas in previous blog posts, so this might be repetitive. But overall, I enjoyed knowing more about his idea of theatre that consisted of an oppressor and an oppressed. His world of the theatre was influenced by his own experiences of social issues such as inequality. Another element I enjoyed was his psychological concept, called The Rainbow of Desire. I was interested in his idea that an individual has multiple personalities that are forced to be suppressed. Boal's ideas were ways to express and find solutions whether it be for personal reasons or the public.
Brecht
I have heard about Brecht before, as there was a student who did a solo project with his theory last year. With my peer's presentation, I was able to learn more about him and found it interesting to juxtapose his methods with Boal's. Brecht's ideas were to alienate the audience from the characters and the play itself. In the video example, students were shown using the techniques of covering their faces, speaking away from the audience and having a narrator. All of it was to remind the audience that they were just spectators of a performance, as Brecht did not want the audience to be immersed. There was also a moment where the students played multiple characters,s which was meant to make the actors unattached to the characters they were playing. I found this technique interesting and I currently believe that this concept of alienation was to bring more focus on the script and the issues presented. In terms of comparing it to Boal's, one can clearly see differences in their methods but the similarity in the way that the wanted to address social issues. Boal's idea of a "spect-actor" was the complete opposite of Brecht's alienation. Boal wanted to create moments that reflect the reality of modern society, while Brecht presented similar ideas through a distant perspective.
Ohno
I have never heard of Ohno before, so this presentation was full of new information. Ohno's ideas immediately reminded me of other Japanese techniques such as Kabuki, along with pantomime. The video example showed a man, who was all covered in white paint, dancing in a manner I found creepy yet entrancing. His movements were slow, graceful and precise, which I enjoyed. But elements such as the body paint, the lack of clothing, and how thin the man was created an eerie atmosphere. The art form itself was almost inhumane, as some images showed a person in poses that looked unrealistic for a human to do. I am interested in the intention behind his theory and the message he wants to convey. After seeing all the examples, I theorized that the visual narrative alludes to Ohno's recollection of experiences from World War 2. The painful poses and inhumane figures look lifeless and could illustrate the horrors that he was exposed to.
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