This course examines and evaluates the historical and contemporary use of theatre as an instrument of social change. Throughout the course students are asked to examine their own place within the context of their society, while learning how theatre works to provoke personal and societal change. An in-depth look at how theatre works with a range of readings and reflections from Aristotle to Brecht. Topics include satire, theatre of the oppressed, theatre and poverty, performance and emotional impact, conflict resolution, and biblical story and narrative.
With tools that facilitate empathy and provide ways for open dialogue and interpersonal communication, students who desire to live missional lives in any field benefit from a better understanding of how theatre has always spoken to its communities.
As often as we assume discussion and argument are the only way we can change the hearts and minds of those around us, we miss the opportunity for what story, and importantly embodied story through theatre, can accomplish. This course emphasizes the ability of story to change our societies and how we can communicate the unspeakable gifts of God’s grace in a way that only theatre can.
Jesus told stories that had a direct connection to his community and confronted their conceptions and asked something of them. Theatre also asks something of us, and we need to be asking the right questions.
In every aspect of missional work we are engaged in some form of theatrical endeavor. How we present ourselves and what stories we are prepared to share impact and influence our abilities to communicate.
Within the pursuit of theatre we find much of what makes us human. How we shine a light on the world around us can add value and attention to the struggles and issues of each community.
Theatre is a cooperative and communal art. Learning to interact and grow with artists of other cultures broadens our ability to communicate and clarify our own ideas.
Every part of this course is meant to provide practical application methods for pursuing theatre within the context of a community with the intention of positive social change.
Students are asked to reevaluate concepts and create work which reflects this reevaluation. Thinking deeply about their own society and how their perspective can impact those around them they are given tasks which begin the process of creating theatrical work which communicates clearly and opens the dialogue for meaningful theatrical events.
