Meeting Dates & Times: Wednesdays, 7:10-10:00Pm

Introduction to Theater of the Oppressed (RSED 4036; 3 Units)Starr King School for the Ministry/Graduate Theological Union-- Fall 2017

Meeting Dates & Times: Wednesdays, 7:10-10:00pm

Venue: Fireside room

Instructor: Jiwon Chung (); available by appointment

Course Description

Theater of the Oppressed (TO)is a collection of games, techniques, exercises for using art and theater as a vehicle for personal and social change. It uses the dynamized human body and the charged theatrical space as laboratories for exploring power, transforming oppression, and finding community-building solutions to the problems of inequality, conflict, injustice and human suffering. Formed in the crucible of revolutionary activism, and based on the radical ideas of Paolo Freire and Augusto Boal, it is a collective artistic exploration into the fullest expression of our human dignity, potential and creativity.

This is an introductory workshop covering the theory, application, and facilitation of TO, including:

• Demechanization
• Dynamization
• Games
• Image Theater & other codifications.
• Forum Theater & variants
• Rainbow of Desire/Cop-in-the-Head
• Theory & Pedagogy

The workshop will be 80% experiential and 20% reflective/didactic. No prior theater or performance experience is required. Elements of related counter-oppressive techniques will also be introduced as an adjunct to TO, and other practitioners of TO may be invited as guest facilitators.

Course Outline

The course is structured to introduce action and experiential techniques from the Theater of the Oppressed, so that participants can begin to apply them as tools in a practice of personal and collective liberation. Participants will be taught how to observe, analyze, challenge and transform oppression and oppressive practices at the individual, interpersonal, institutional, and ideological levels, using a vast spectrum of techniques, exercises, and tools from Theater of the Oppressed.

The core essence of the work lies in Augusto Boal's deep and sustained formulation of Freirian principles into a political and artistic practice. As a method of popular pedagogy, TO is a radical and powerful method of translating Paolo Freire's ideas of a pedagogy of liberation into social action. This course will explore ways of engaging the intelligence of the whole body, and the wisdom of groups to dialogue, learn & unlearn, self-teach, and problem-solve fundamental issues of oppression and social injustice. We will be experimenting with multi-modal techniques of representing, thinking and communicating (especially as they relate to power dynamics). There will be a strong emphasis on kinesthetic learning, total physical response & meta-learning. There will be a progression of games and exercises for structuring group dynamics. All of these activities are utilized in a structured progression that creates a core practice of liberation and empowerment for all participants.

In addition to the above, we will be bringing a deep analysis of power relations, oppression, liberation and social justice from a viewpoint strongly influenced by a critical/left worldview. The work is an embodied phenomenological exploration into praxis. Participants should come out solidly grounded in theory & practice, more deeply aware, and more courageous and passionate in their desire to challenge social injustice.

Course Policies & Expectations:

The course will be a balance of active experiential techniques and critical reflection/processing. The work will require committed, continuous psychic, active, intellectual preparation & engagement with difficult issues of oppression and social justice.

Some of the work may bring up challenging emotions, feelings, resistance; participants will be expected to engage with these responses, reflect, process, and work through them either in the class or privately with support of instructor.
Active participation (with reasonable accommodation) is expected both in physical/experiential exploration and in critical intellectual engagement.

In addition, the work is intensive, dialogical, and collectively generated, so good attendance, participation, and punctuality are crucial to the success of the class. Two missed classes without arrangements for makeup will result in failure of the course.

Readings in a course reader will be assigned for discussion, and participants are encouraged to take notes or to keep a journal for each session.

Course Assignments:

Describe the required assignments that students must complete to pass the course.

All participants will be expected to complete one of the followingprojects or papers, by or before the end of the course:

a)community project: a performance, presentation, community workshop(s)

b)a reflective essay/report on a TO project (5-10 pages)

c)a series of lesson plans utilizing TO (5 to 10 pages)

d)a critical paper on theory (not to exceed 20 pages, double-spaced),

that engages with, utilizes, or demonstrates Theater of the Oppressed.
In addition,short reflective essays (500-1000 words; to be posted on moodle) after each class, will also be required. These must be posted after each session. These should demonstrate engagement, reflection on the work in class or on the readings. Participants may also respond to others essays.

The instructor will be available for further discussion outside of class by appointment; questions and concerns can also be addressed to me by email () or by phone.

Participants will be supported and encouraged to facilitate with groups outside the class. There will be structured opportunities to assist in facilitation of community workshops, and group and individual support will be given to those who take the initiative to develop their own community workshops.

Please dress comfortably to move.

Grading:

In accordance with Starr King Policy, participants will be graded Pass/Fail with a written evaluation unless a letter grade is requested. Absence from two classes without arrangements for makeup will result in failure from the course. Any planned absences should be discussed with instructor ahead of time. Successful completion of the course will be based on:

a) Attendance and active participation/engagement in TO process: 50%
b) 12 Reflectivemoodle essays: 30%
c) Final Project: 20%

Additional work may be submitted for extra credit; please discuss with instructor.

Learning Objectives:

During this course, students will cover the following area/topics/skills:

DemechanizationDynamization: Building trust, safety, spontaneity, cohesiveness in groups; engaging & liberating sensation, movement and imagination; developing creativity, embodied intelligence and spontaneity in action.

Image theater: Making the invisible visible; concretizing, engaging, embodying and transforming oppression; observing, analyzing and deconstructing received images, stories, memes/mythologies/ideologies of oppression.

Forum theater: Intervening in & transforming oppressive situations through collective problem-solving; imagining, enacting, rehearsing alternative outcomes; exploring “subjunctive” modes, viewpoints, styles of relating/dialoguing; creating collective empowerment & community-oriented justice

Cop in the Head/Rainbow of Desire: Techniques for transforming intrapsychic and internalized oppression.

TO as a Martial Art: Exploring the dialectical syntax of power: Integrating mind, body & spirit in the transformation of oppression

TO & allied techniques: TO, Simultaneous Dramaturgy, Playback and other allied techniques: sculpting, fluid sculptures, pairs, narrative techniques, empathic listening and witnessing.

Theory: History and Theory of TO; development of TO techniques; application of theatrical/TO techniques in social action, education, therapy, politics, dialogue and conflict resolution; Empathy, catharsis, dynamization; "distributive affective justice"; the function of art in society (propaganda, ideology, meme theory); theater, pedagogy and social transformation.

The application of the following exercises and techniques (not exhaustive) will be introduced, taught and discussed in the classes. A schema for progression will be introduced.

Warm ups, Embodiment, & Sociometrical Techniques:

Physical Warm ups: Space games, Name games, Sound/Movement exercises, Tag games; Energy exercises, Imaginative endowments, Endowed offers; Breathing spirals, Feldenkrais exercises, Contact Improvisation, Martial arts exercises (Pagua, Taiji, Wingchun, Kali), Sociometrical exercises;

Group awareness/cohesion:
Demechanization/power dynamics:

Demechanizations: Blind sequences; Sound sequences; movement sequences: Transduction sequences;Power/status/lead/follow games & sequences

Image Theater & Codification techniques:

Complete the image, image circles; image pairs, galleries; Song of the siren, ”agora” forms, Transform the image”, Dynamizations, pendulation; Auroptiocontranducing images

Forum Theater/intervention

Forum warm Ups; Forum preparations; Eliciting, shaping, devising Forum; Forum sharing: PT to Forum; Jokering

Lighting Forum, Boxing seconds, Topping Forum; Meta Forum: Rainbow Forum; Carousel Forum; Image Forum;

Rainbow of Desire/Cop-in-the Head:

Rainbow into forum; foruming rainbow & cop; somatics of rainbow & cop
Rehearsal Techniques & Transductions

Expected Outcomes:

At the end of the course, participants should:

• Be able to articulate the basic approaches, techniques and theories of TO.
• Understand the historical and social context of the development of TO and Pedagogy of the Oppressed.
• Be able to explain the developmental sequencing of a workshop (warm up, demechanization, dynamization, codification (image theater, forum, rainbow, etc.), analysis, action, reflection
• Be able to coordinate, utilize, facilitate (“joker”) these techniques & elements with groups.
• Have tools to build trust, safety, empathy, and facilitate dialogue with groups.
• Be able to identify and measure affiliation, difference & social dynamics; be able to apply this to clarifying, revealing and transforming issues of oppression.
• Be able to apply the skills of demechanization (dishabituation) of sight, sound, touch, thought, affect, movement and its effects on liberating and freeing consciousness and habits of relating..
• Understand the somatic dimensions of power and oppression; be able to apply the skills of dynamization in expressive and focused action for social change.
• Be able to identify their own privilege/status/power, and how it situates them in relation to other groups or individuals; be able to identify the multiplicity of ways in which we oppress and are oppressed by ourselves & others.
• Be able to articulate, analyze, witness, dialogue, and transform oppression using the tools and techniques of TO and the Freirian cycle (codification, analysis, action, reflection).
• Be able to write/devise/direct/produce an effective forum play, and joker the play or workshop.
• Understand TO, its application, skillful use, coordination with other forms of organizing and political action; understand its uses and limits within foundational and global structures of violence and oppression.
• Have tools to able to enhance, empower, dynamize oneself and groups, and develop a liberated, transformational approach to being in this world.

Participants should also demonstrate an increase in:

• Their capacity to listen deeply and dialogue

• Their ability to shift [between] power dynamics; increased fluidity in affiliation and individuation; increased ability to empathize or distance as necessary; fluidity in transitioning between action, affect and reflection (concrete/experiential and abstract modes).
• Spontaneity, creativity, imagination & tele; affect, role and status flexibility.
• Their ability to notice, name and analyze power dynamics, with an increased ability to shift, transform, reverse and neutralize power dynamics.
• Their awareness of the larger institutional, historical & social contexts of oppression & marginalization
• Their desire to create a deep, informed, intelligent, sustained commitment to challenging and transforming oppressive relations of power everywhere
  

Course Schedule:

The following outline is a tentative outline. The actual progression may evolve organically and dialogically from session to session, depending on the needs and issues that are generated by the participants.

Page numbers refer to the class reader.

Session 1 (Introduction to TO):
Exercises:
Intros & Warm ups

Embodiment & Sociometry
Somatic & dialogical processes
Imagination, role & scene work,

DemechanizationDynamization

Image Theater & Forum Theater
Power Analysis

History & Theory Overview
Key concepts/exercises:

Codification, Image theater, Forum theater

Freirian cycle, Problem-posing education/theater

Descriptive vs. interrogative theater

Sequencing (raise energy, focus energy, engage imagination, GOTE, story/code, problem-posing)
“Spect-actor”
Demechanizationdynamization

Readings:

Introduction: What is Theatre of the Oppressed (pp1-8)

Juan Gonzalez in Dialogue with Augusto Boal (pp9-14)

The Blessing is Next to the Wound (pp227-238)

Experiments with the People's Theatre in Peru".(pp48-66)
Pedagogy of the Oppressed (pp275-285)

Session 2 (Reading the World: Image Theater):
Exercises:
Discussion, Check in & Warm up
Writing the body/Reading the Body: Labor dances
Image Theater Alphabet (Reading & writing images)
Image Sociometry (Magnetic/Collocated images)

Dynamized Images (Fluid Sculptures); Carnaval of Rio
Demechanizing Senses
Transducing/translating sound & story
Release/pendulations
Key concepts/exercises:

Transduction/codification/metaphoricity

Demechanization/dishabituation/depatterning
Attention, awareness; startle/cringe/orienting reflexes
Sequences of transition & progression
Subjectivity, Objectivity, Intersubjectivity
Narrative, Plot, Story structures; counterfactual narrative: “narrative networks”
Conflict, Crisis, Intervention,Peripeteia, Anagnorisis, Platform & Tilt
Power dynamics

Demechanize-dynamize-codify-problem-pose

Readings:

Please finish reading Pedagogy of the Oppressed (chapters 1 & 2, pp285-296)

"Problem -Posing at Work: A Popular Educator's Guide", pp 317-329.

Please read "TO introduction" (attachment in moodle)

Session 3 (Transforming the World: Image Theater):
Exercises:

Check in/discussion
Chain greetings/Somatic connections

Discover the world (demechanization)

Magnetic Images
Complete the Image (pairs); Complete the image (triads/prompts)

Pilot/co-pilot (image theater triads, dynamizations)

Image circle/Rainbow

Image Resculpt

Concepts:

Image Theater & Uses
Demechanization/depatterning/dishabituation

Interkinesthetic affectivity

Energetics & polyvalences of imaging

Image & Story; Promises, Metaphors,

Mirroring, coding/codification/representation

Concretization/externalization

Image & Transformation: Reflexivity in Theater/Archimedian point

Image & Perspective: Rainbow of Desire

Readings:
Boal in Brazil, France, the USA (pp 15-23)
My three theatrical encounters (pp 95-99)

Theatre, the First Human Invention (pp 100-101)

TO, the Body, and Phenomenology of Trauma (pp 225-226)

I & Thou (pp 267-273)

Please start reading: Aristotle's Coercive System of Theater (pp 25-33):
Excerpts from Games for Actors and Non-actors (moodle)

Session 4 (Making the Invisible Visible: Transduction):
Exercises:

Check in/Discussion

Fill the space

Demechanization: "Disobey":
Demechanization: Magnetic hands/Glass Cobra

Image Theater: Blind Sculptures

Haptic rainbow/Blind Elephant
Carnaval of Rio

Song of Siren
Sonic Kaleidoscope

Physical metaphors

Concepts:
Coding, Transduction, Representation & Metaphor
Demechanization, Defamiliarization/Ostranenie, V-Effect/Verfremdungseffekt

Demechanization of space, movement & spacial perception

Telekinesthesia/Cotention/Interkinesthetic Affectivity (Behnke)/Transport (Alexander)

Aristotelian Tragedy & Its Discontents

Readings:

Theatre, the First Human Invention (pp 100-101)
Aristotle's Coercive System of Theater (pp 25-33)

Catharsis or Repose, or Knowledge and Action; Empathy or Osmosis (pp45-47)
Narrative Power Analysis (pp 333-340):
Brecht (moodle)

Behnke (moodle)
Tarkovski (moodle)

Session 5 (Rehearsal for Revolution: Forum Theater):

Exercises:

Warm up/Demechanization

Everyone it

Narrative Crossings

Crossing forum

Columbian Hypnosis (dependency theory)

Columbian Hypnosis (forum)

Forum Warmup

Sonic Kaleidoscope/holographic listening

Pilot/co-Pilot

Forum Theater I
Interventions & Imaginative Spontaneity
Lightning Forum
Concepts:
Narrative power (novelty, pathos, epistemics,menomics, memics); Propaganda
Aristotle Deconstructed: Peripeteia, Anagnorisis; Distance, Identificaiton, Empathy & Catharsis; Fear & Pity; Catharsis vs. Dynamization

Staging & dramaturgy:
Promises/Tilt/Physicality/choreography (chorus, canon, counterpoint; space & power).

Kairotic Time; Simultaneity; rhythm & musicality; montage/oneiric elements
Metaphor; Personification

Attention, presence, commitment & connection;
Emotion; vulnerability; impulsivity/spontaneity

Care/Identification/empathy; high stakes/risk

Monologues/Reincorporation & foreshadowing

Session 6 (Forum Theater-Interventions):
Exercises:

Discussion/Check-in

Accompaniment

Contact: single contact/group contact/hand contact

Floorwork
Bolivian Mimosas
Energetic Centers

Theremin

Sonic Narratives
Forum Theater II

Concepts:
Forum Intervention: when, who, how, why?

Empathy & Solidarity

Structural violence/Horizontal violence/Slow violence/Fast violence

Physical violence/symbolic violence/ideological violence
Aggression vs. Oppression

Intersectionality in/of Oppression

Session 7 (Image to Forum; Rainbow of Desire):
Exercises:

Discussion/check-in

Image theater pairs (PT, image galleries, dynamizations)

Listening, transducing, codifying, metaphorization

Complete the image (in trios, chairs, trees)

Codification, spontaneity, exploration

Image circles
Ideal Image/Pendulation/Word Mills/Collective Image

Great game of power/Change the power relations
Image into Forum Theater; Playback theater
Forum Theater III
Rainbow of Desire
Rashomon
Cop-in-the-Head

Concepts:
Forum theater & power

Architectures, microarchitectures, technologies, tactics, discourses of power
Consent theory of power

Intersectionality of power/privilege

Power and space; empathy/humanization

GOTE (Goal, Obstacle, Tactics, Energy/Emotion)

Codification/dynamization

Readings:
pp.7-9: Notes on Jokering

pp. 43-44 Empathy or What?

pp. 46-47: Empathy or Osmosis

pp. 209-215: Lib Spry: "Structures of Power"

pp. 95-99: Three Encounters

pp. 118-119: Jana Sanskriti

pp. 114-117: Three Hypotheses of TO

Session 8 (Personal & Political: Rainbow of Desire):

Exercises:

Image galleries

Magic if (greetings)

Pairs/contrasting monologues

Image circles/image theater/dialectical images: dialectical rainbow/rainbow of resources

Rainbow dialogues with oppressor

Rashomon

Rainbow of ideologies (intra-dialogue)

Sociometry"antibodies" against ideological oppressions:

Rainbow Forum

Deroling

Polyphonic poetics

Concepts:

Rainbow of Desire
Violence, Oppression,Intersectionality
Race, Class, Gender
Structural, Symbolic, Ideological violence
Perspectives, polyphony, poesis, praxis

Session 9 (TO: Challening Structural Violence):

Exercises:
Image theater/Image gallery/doubling

Song of siren

Discuss in groups

Image dynamizations ("ideal image")

Image dynamizations (collective power)

Dialectical images (dialectical rainbow):

Got your back

Columbian hypnosis/mutual hypnosis/triads/septets
Forum IV: Collective Forum
Power maps; modeling power

Concepts:

Structural Violence
Dialectics/solidarity

Pendulation/dynamization

Disarticulating Narrative Chains
Points of crisis/points of intervention/divide and conquer