Political Theater
How does one define political theater' Those who favor conservative orrightwing views, first think of it as leftist propaganda. Individuals whoenjoy mainstream plays and straightforward plots, see it as one-sided andpedantic. It is true that inferior productions of these performances can bedogmatic and strident, but every art form has its detractors. However,political theater at its best emphasizes an important societal issue of theday and delivers a message to viewers of all backgrounds and interests. Itwishes to be anything but a political party line or single-dimensional innature. Audiences with a wider view consider political theatre ranging faroutside mere polemics. As playwright and journalist Ben Winters states,"political theatre can also be defined as exploring themes more universaland central to society itself, especially when that society defines itselfas politically conscious." Adds playwright Jessica Blank, "First andforemost, what we wanted to do was make a good piece of theatre, politicalor not. If the piece also has a purpose, it can serve that purpose betterthe better a work of art it is." Surely, El Teatro Campesino Theatre andBread and Puppet Theatre exemplify this higher level of
Peter Schumann formed The Bread & Puppet Theatre in 1962 on New YorkCity's Lower East Side. Valdez thought that people should not only stand up for their beliefs,but also teach other people about societal problems so that others wouldfight for a better life too. One of Schumann's specialties is adapting Christian liturgies tocontemporary political circumstances. Valdez' plays, as well as movies, major theater productions and CDs,usually have a Chicano theme (unlike the "everyman" Bread & Puppetapproach), but the commentaries go far beyond the Chicano people. Other theatres, radical in experimentor politics, have not been able to maintain this kind of continuity" (ibid35). politicalTheater (Guardian Unlimited). In the latter musical oration, theplaywright accompanies his prophecy with furious bowing on his scratchfiddle. " In manyrespects, he adds, it is a service for the dead. Whereas Schumann primarily uses puppets and stray and shabby props toportray his message, Valdez often relies on broad and farcical sketchescalled "actos" (Huerta, 8) or adapting traditional Mexican "corridos" orballads to the stage. Valdez urges "us to embrace life with all of thevigor we can muster in the midst of insurmountable-4-obstacles" (Huerta 20). Following the disaster in New York, Schumann has used his art to warnof trends he sees growing in the country. Valdez once observed that, "until we had the artists who could expresswhat the people (farmworkers) were feeling and saying, we wouldn't reallyregister politically. Valdez' works "is finally about a search foridentity through the playwright's quest for what is reality-past, presentand future.
Common topics in this essay:
Bread Puppet,
United States',
,
Whereas Schumann,
Valdez Schumann,
El Teatro,
Farmworkers' Theater,
Puppet's Fire,
I'm German,
Lower East,
bread puppet,
el teatro,
puppet theatre,
political theater,
teatro campesino,
el teatro campesino,
bread puppet theatre,
political theatre,
|
Acceptance Essays
