Describe how theater and performance have been engaged and deployed in service of a political message. How does Bread & Puppet seem to work? What does it do? Are its politics obvious? Conversely, what are the dynamics of the CIRCA (Rebel Clown Army) actions? What is the overall effect of them? (feel free to focus this question towards a response that is meaningful to you. In other words, you don't need to specifically answer them as much as use them as catalysts to spur some thoughtful writing… about 1 page each week.)
Another example of political activism in theater is seen in the Bread & Puppet theater company. They have created a large-scale theater performance with huge, and I mean HUGE puppets as the main props. While watching the performances on Youtube in class Thursday, I didn't really understand the politics behind the performance. It felt very cult-like to me, but as the videos progressed I started to understand the beauty behind it, and also the unity. Over 40,000 people would attend these large-scale theater performances in Vermont, and it occurred to me that it wasn't "weird" which was the first thought that came to mind about seeing these ritual performances, but the effect of such a performance is quite profound. By involving audience members, it is clear that the oppressed were not only the actors and directors. People came to this gathering because they wanted to be a part of sending a certain political message to the world.
The CIRCA or Rebel Clown Army’s dynamics are totally
different. With people coming together
to literally train how to be non- violent, humorous, tacky, and wacky…this
political activist group of performers really stood out. Instead of fighting
authority, they literally got right in their way without doing anything
illegal. They were just having a good time in costume and displaying their
concern for certain laws to be changed. I love the effect that they have. I
think it’s totally awesome that they can recruit members from all over the
world and that these people take time out of their lives to display how goofy
and unlawful certain regimes are. My favorite part by far of the CIRCA's act is the value of improvisation. To be able to 'kill the cop' inside one's head and go with the flow without second guessing yourself is the key to success when improvising. I'm really interested in improvisation and am actually taking an improvisation class this semester. I think it's amazing when people are able to let go of the thought of "something has to be this certain way, or said a certain way" because honestly, spontaneity is the lust of life. If everything was perfectly thought and planned out, life would be quite the bore. Verson states in her article,
"Rebel clowning is partially a tactical weapon against sheer stupidity of capitalism and war, and partially a tool to free the self from the tremendous damage that capitalism has done to our bodies and our minds" (Verson 183).
That quote sums up the beauty of CIRCA. Freeing people from the not so free world. Remembering that their are souls behind those who work as a cog in the machine...and those who are willing to stand up against that machine
...
(Her colorful clown face and nose up against the black suited authority; this image truly displays the silliness of CIRCA. Improvisation and creativity are what makes this cultural activist group so unique and inspirational. )
