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At a recent evening workshop, two dozen students were encouraged to pantomime actions portraying racism, homophobia, and classism.
These “theater games” served as an introduction to techniques employed in Theatre of the Oppressed (TO), which was developed by Brazilian social activist Augusto Boal in the 1970s to raise the consciousness of oppressed individuals. Spectators participate as “spect-actors.”
Rick Piatt ’91, an English graduate who serves on the international TO board of directors, visited campus to share his expertise.
“TO is designed to not only unleash creativity, but open the way for discussion of relevant social topics,” says Piatt, an Augustinian priest who is assistant professor of visual and performing arts at Merrimack College. “Everything about TO is political. There is no neutrality. If you’re silent, you’re condoning oppression.”
While on the Hill, Piatt spoke to students in the Theater and Social Justice first-year seminar taught by Mary Jo Lodge, associate professor of theater, and gave a brown-bag talk. Piatt also consults on TO methods with students in the Single Motherhood in the Contemporary U.S. course taught by Deborah Byrd, professor of English.
1 Comment
I am encouraged by the Theater of the Oppressed activity. There are sad divisions in our Presbyterian (USA) General Assembly, with congregations disrupted by members who do not accept G.A and Presbytery actions reaching out to oppressed individuals. I hope the psychology/emotional and systemic factors as well as Biblical-understandings can be addressed. I often hope what happens on the Lafayette College campus can help our larger societal world also. Keep up your bold leadership.
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