Theatrical Insight Assignment Requirements
ASSIGNMENT OPTION #1 – THEATRICAL INSIGHT
ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES
There are three primary folders in the Assignment Option #1 folder. They are designed to provide theatrical insight regarding the value, purpose and/or ceative process of theatre. If you select this assignment you are to either:
• Select two videos to view from Video Folder 1 AND select three videos to compare and contrast from Video Folder 2.
OR
• Select videos from one of the following series of videos: either The Lion King Educational Series or Wicked: Behind the Emerald Curtain, War Horse Series or the Frankenstein Series). From the series, you select, choose at least five videos to view and write about.
What are you to write about? Write about what interests you. What is your reaction to a particular video? What have you learned? Were you surprised at anything? Did a video make you think? Why?
How? I am interested in what you think.
Folder 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOteBgQxEjo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C87fblpBGmA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6VFfGvAVZI
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32383170
Folder 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBTXS42dj40
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_kGtQmvrVI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGfrE5500p4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00xPrvcUoQk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJuarylpnmM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJuarylpnmM
https://www.kevinspacey.com/nowthefilm/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kp9craIvoQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsu-2aTdKTs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sCpF5tPEwQ
Solution
Theatrical Insight
Theatre has influenced the human race since antiquity. Its ability to hold the attention and interest of the audience has over the years been utilized to entertain people and to pinpoint socio-economic and political problems facing society. Its ability to communicate ideas effectively through the application of different theatrical techniques makes it an efficient tool for triggering social, economic, and political change. The application of theatre in the past has revealed its ability to prompt socio-economic and political development by addressing the various issues that affect people. As such, it remains an essential tool that the society should focus on developing in the coming years. In this essay, I will compare different videos in an effort to outline the importance of theatre in the society. Further, the essay will discuss few theatrical techniques to outline their application and effectiveness in the communication of ideas to the audience.
After watching two different clips of Fences starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis and James Earl Jones different things interested me (Fences Broadway, 2010: Niko Papastefanou, 2011). First, the reaction of the audiences to the scene was of great interest. While the two videos rotate around the same scene, the audiences react differently. The audience of Denzel Washington finds the acting comical and laugh throughout the scene while that of Earl Jones is silent throughout the scene. This taught me that the application of different theatrical techniques makes a great difference. For instance, Earl Jones depicts the issue as a serious one where the prioritization of the basic needs for a family come before feelings for family such as ‘liking’. On the other hand, the dramatization of the scene and the attachment of a comical element by Denzel make the scene fun but manage to portray the seriousness of the situation (Fences Broadway, 2010).
I was surprised by the fact that theatre by the ability of theatre to communicate the same message differently arousing different reactions from the audience. In the case of the scene from Fences, Denzel and Jones communicate the same message differently and arouse varying reactions (Fences Broadway, 2010). Following this, I learned that theatre can be applied to pass information using different techniques and that depending on the theatrical techniques applied the audience reacts differently. Serious issues that face the society can be passed in a comical manner to the audience or with a sternness that reveals the seriousness of the issue. As such, the efficient application of theatre in the society can be informative, educational, admonishing or encouraging depending on how the director and actors want the audience to react and/or receive the message (Dallas Theater Center, 2010). For instance, the two videos made me think deeply on actually what matters in a family. I learned that in a society where people struggle and face detrimental challenges to attain the basic needs may prioritize provision over love for family.
The different videos made me understand the power of theatre in triggering imagination, arousing emotions, promoting communication, enabling people to interact and view issues differently (Dallas Theater Center, 2010). The Dallas Theatre Center video improved my understanding on the importance of theatre in the society. It discusses the numerous applications of theatre in enhancing child development, integrating it in solving social problems, improving creativity and innovation, and boosting economic and political development among other things. It helped me understand that it can be applied in various sectors in different ways to deal with diverse issues of concern. As such, it remains an essential part of the society. The video by THNKR (2012) supports the importance of theatre in the society by arguing for its ability to influence audiences, interest, convince, and compel people to act thus citing it as essential to the existence of the human race.
Additionally, I learned that the integration of different elements such as cultural aspects in theatre enhances the understanding of the message in relation to a particular group, pointing out clearly the socio-cultural concerns. For instance, the utilization of accurate accents in theatre is important in making the audience understand the message and place it in context. In the Fences, Denzel and Jones employ the African American accent deeply. Also, the ‘Jersey Boys’ the use of accent in the performance outlines the culture of the actors.
In conclusion, in consideration
of the above discussion, it is clear that the application of theatre is
critical for the identification of different social, economic, and political problems
within the society. Theatre can be applied in the discussion of the issues that
face the society and the communication of ideas thus influencing people to act.
The influence of theatre is, therefore, critical for triggering social, economic,
and political change and development in any country. The application of
different techniques in theatre is important for the enhancement of its
efficiency, and for the effective communication of some of the issues of
concern. Dramatization and other techniques, integration of different cultural
elements such as accents, and the connection it creates between the actor and
the audience make it efficient in interesting, convincing, entertaining, making
people believe, and it compelling people to act. As such, it is critical for
the development of the society.
References
Broadwaycom . (2011, March 21). Show Clips: ‘Jersey Boys’ on Broadway! . Retrieved February 8, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGfrE5500p4
Dallas Theater Center. (2010, November 17). Stage matters: A short video on why / how / if theatre matters in America. Retrieved February 8, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOteBgQxEjo
Fences Broadway. (2010, May 3). Fences clip: how come you ain’t never liked me? . Retrieved February 8, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBTXS42dj40
Niko Papastefanou. (2011, July 8). James Earl Jones – Fences “You Ain’t Never Liked Me”. Retrieved February 8, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_kGtQmvrVI
THNKR. (2012, December 4). Does Theater Still Matter? . Retrieved February 8, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C87fblpBGmA
