Over the course of the semester, all of the readings we were given to read all had some sort of impact or insight to parts of the theater and the challenges people face. I feel that these readings are important and worth the time they took to read. I learned about the many forms of theater and parts of theater history. How theatre began with the Greek festival to worship Diyonisess and to discuss politics, to its transformation into what we see today where we still discuss politics and social issues. That each actor had to spend hours upon hours training and learning the skills that can impact entire rooms full of people. We learned the different types of theaters and the genres of performances. I learned so much over this semester, but in reality, I still do not know enough. We only scratched the surface of theater and its history. There is so much more we can learn, from the simplest of themes to the discussion of the human psyche that directors must decipher and bring to life. That theater is not just about the actors, instead of theater depends on so many different groups of people putting their souls into each and everything they do. It’s the set designers, the stage managers, the costume designers, makeup artists, light crew, and so many others that it takes to make each performance possible. The theater is so much more than just the performance, that it is a community of people who come together to make an impact on the world through storytelling. Bringing different walks of life to the front of the world, allowing all sorts of voices a chance to be heard. 

What I have learned from this class and its connection to my other classes is honestly everything. I am in a Global Issues, Disability and literature class, and Queer literature. In this class we have touched upon issues such as race and culture, we discussed disability and mental illness, and we have read and talked about performances with queer characters. Throughout this semester all of these classes became so interlaced in what is being taught that it felt like a massive culture shock. The world is so much bigger than I initially thought and all of these classes opened my eyes to a lot of the issues in the world. They also taught me to be proud of the communities I am a part of because of how hard they fought to earn representation. Being a Queer woman today would have never been possible if it wasn’t for the woman’s suffrage, the stonewall riots with the black trans LGBTQ+ forebearers, and discussions of mental illness. Theatre and society have come such a long way since the start of civilization, I am excited to see how it continues to transform into something even more magnificent than what we have today. 

I will be taking these lessons I have learned this semester with me for the rest of my life. They all have built a solid foundation for me to continue learning and experiencing life. I only hope that with each reading I will further my understanding of life and the impact of theater. The impact of this class will affect my views of the world for the rest of my life.

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I do not think America will have a National Theatre. With the Federal Theatre Project failing because of a difference of opinions on what should be allowed vs what people think is too much, it shows that if the Government funds theatre programs then it will have to include some sort of censorship. We have been discussing censorship in class and over the past couple of weeks, it has become clear that censorship will take away from the lessons that theatre teaches. While it would be very nice for theatre to have the proper funding it deserves, but if it means being placed under restrictions where they are unable to perform certain plays. In the video we had to watch, Broadway’s Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre, from “American Masters” at the very end there was a speaker named Shelly Winters. She said that people in the arts are a part of the process that changes society. When she said that it felt right. The theater has been at the pinnacle of showing society what is wrong with the world, what social injustices are occurring, and how people could possibly make strides in correcting those wrongs. 

In the article Why America has no National Theater, it says that one of the major reasons why we do not have a national theater is because Americans do not have enough time to go see performances on a regular basis. With how our society has focused on making a profit off of individuals, we never focused on how to invest in the entirety of our emotional wellbeing. Our time has a price tag attached and not everyone can afford to take time off to attend a performance. If the government was to fund the theater, then they would need to keep a certain amount of viewers per performance so that their money is not wasted. If there is a decline of viewers then the government could possibly cut the amount given to an individual theater, which would cause job cuts depending on how drastic the funding is pushed back. It would not be fair to those who have dedicated their lives to the theater to have their livelihood jerked around and controlled by those who want to censor and choose what issues get to have a say. All voices deserve to be heard, all backgrounds have the right to make an appearance and be brought to light. The Government has no business in choosing whose voice gets to be heard. They do not get to censor peoples’ voices. Without theater, society will remain ignorant of its peoples’ issues. I feel that if there ever was another attempt to have a national theater, people will riot or push back against it so that they will not lose their freedom. Their ability to give voice to issues and give voice to those whose voices cannot be heard. We will never have a National Theatre because it would take out the core of what theater is. Taking humanity at its rawest form, and sharing it with the world. 

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The debate about censorship and its role within public funding is very tricky to navigate. On one side, people believe that they should control where their money goes and if it should be allowed to be used towards art that they deem ‘vulgar’. People value their ability to have the power of censoring things for themselves and for those around them, even if their values differ. When we discussed what censorship was in class and if it should be applied, I was so torn. On the one hand, I was raised to censor things that my mother and my grandparents deemed inappropriate, but on the other, as I get older I realize that censorship takes away the human value of art. By censoring what humans create to express themselves in their own individual way, it takes away the raw emotion humans generate when creating art. 

While the arts are not something we need to survive, it does allow humans to empathize with others and to connect on a mental level. People can go through similar experiences or traumas, if these are censored then it would sever the connection between millions of people. The arts depend on funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. Without them, we would not have artists from every walk of life. We would not have their stories for us to learn from. With the censorship that comes along with the N.E.A, it takes away from their experience, thus invalidating the art they put so much effort into creating. To get the money, they have to follow rules, but those rules set by authority figures restrict their freedom of speech. However, because people of power have a bigger voice, their voices are forced to be silenced.

 I believe that censorship should be taken with a grain of salt. People should be allowed to be more open to express themselves. One of the biggest taboos we see in the art world is nudity and talk of sexuality, gender, and sex. We are always trying to keep that ‘secret’ that is not really a secret. Humans need to become more open and less squeamish about their bodies. If it does not concern you personally, then why try to control others because of your own discomfort or lack of understanding? I do not understand why people must always try to enforce their own rules and regulations onto others, even if they have a completely different background. For example, the Piss Christ, which was a small plastic crucifix placed in a jar of urine by a photographer named Andres Serrano. The Piss Christ would offend those who are religious, but to those who do not worship Christ, it is just a cross in a jar of pee. In a previous post, I believed that we could use the graphic rating system, but now, I think it is utterly foolish and idiotic to censor things that are natural to human nature, no matter how grotesque and sacrilegious it could be. Powerful religions have always mocked and dehumanized other religions, why can their say outweigh those who have a different religion? If we tie further censorship to art through the N.E.A then we will take away the voice of those who have already been censored by the system we live in. Art, in all its vast forms, is a way to express the raw human spirit and censoring will ruin what we have fought to preserve.

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STEM vs STEAM is something that is very difficult to talk about. Because on one hand, many people want to keep Art on its own and to just appreciate it more as well as to have it funded better than how it is now. Others believe that if Art joined STEM it would allow the students to further extend their creativity. But it is much more than that. People believe that with STEM they will educate children to become better problem-solvers for the world they are entering, children who better understand the world around them, applying the massive amounts of knowledge they have acquired hands-on. The STEM program is treated as though there is not any creativity, but for them to understand problems and think of ways to solve them, they have to be able to think of creative ways to solve those issues. So STEM is not completely void of creativity, it just lacks the proper teaching of how to allow that creativity to flourish. 

One article talks about how art allows students to connect better to science and math, allowing for a deeper understanding of both. That people do not understand that the arts and STEM overlap in everyday life such as how people use chemistry to make food and deserts, chemistry to make makeup, and computer science to make animations for major films (Milgrom-Elcott). Art is a necessary part of life and if the STEM program does not teach children to continue their exploration of that creativity that thrives in a setting where it is used and understood, then we will slowly become a place where creativity will die. In another article it talks about a study conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts, they found that students who are actively participating in art programs are 21%  more likely to continue onto post-secondary education and that they often take part in STEM courses. That they are even more likely to receive scholarships because of being apart of the arts program (School of Education). Creativity has to be present for someone to understand and apply what they learn. If they are unable to take what they learn and find ways to apply it in everyday life then we are doomed. Why have knowledge if you can not use it to help yourself and others? STEAM is a great way to incorporate every aspect of learning, intelligence and knowledge go hand in hand with art and its ability to allow creativity to thrive together. I feel that STEM is important and a good way to have people prepared to solve the problems of the world that we may face in the future, but it can not be applied if they are not allowed to fule their creativity. 

STEM teaches students to learn Math, Science, and Technology, which is very important in today’s society, but they still need to teach students that they are allowed to use the creativity they learn to find creative, outside-the-box ways to solve issues that are normally considered unsolvable. I believe that it is important to hold onto creativity and that incorporating the Arts into STEM to create STEAM would be beneficial to everyone. 

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Citations 

Milgrom-Elcott, Talia. “When STEM Becomes STEAM, We Can Change The Game.” Forbes, 2017.School of Education. “STEM vs. STEAM: Why One Letter Matters.” School of Education, 12 5 2018, https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/stem-vs-steam

When it comes to casting people for roles within the theater it is important to pick actors who are able to bring characters to life in a way that they are well-rounded and able to feel real to the audience. It is important to be able to cast people who fit the role as closely as possible. That means not casting white people when having roles written for people of color. When you give a white actor a role that is written for someone of color, it takes away from the scene, the culture behind the character, their life experience, and history that a white person would most likely not have. It could be harder to find actors who could fill those roles, but if it means being able to share a culture and have that deep history behind the actors and characters, then it is worth the time and effort. 

When it comes to casting characters who are apart of the LGBTQ+ then it is a bit more tricky. Grade ‘A’ actors have been cast for queer characters when there are other acts who have the ability to portray the characters with more understanding. Why? Because these actors have the ability to get more people into the theatre seats. But some of these actors do not understand the struggle that many people have dealt with for being gay. There is a good argument about having women play trans women and men play trans men. That way it allows the audience to see how they are women and how they are men. That even though they are portraying a transgender character, they can show that they are a woman or man. Nonbinary characters should be played by nonbinary people. They deserve to have the correct representation because they are neither male nor female. So by having a nonbinary character being playing by someone who is nonbinary it does not allow any room for mistakes. 

If the characters are not specifically stated to be one of color or white, then anyone can be cast for those roles. If the casting does not take away from any sort of culture, race, or heritage, then they can be portrayed by those who fit best. People deserve to have accurate representation, whether or not if they are someone of color or apart of the LGBTQ+. Representation means people having the history and experience that they can share with others who need someone to look up to. By having representation people can feel like they are not so alone in the world. If the parts are written with specific people in mind, then follow that specification. Everyone deserves a voice in theatre, film, and television. Everyone deserves their voice to be heard. 

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Triggers are something that is set off by anything. An event, a sound, action, words, or phrases, the list is endless. People who have experienced trauma can have certain triggers that cause them to relive that event. They can be both severe or mild, but the result is the same. Putting Trigger warnings before a theatrical performance is something that is debated, some think that people are being childish and “Snowflakes” by wanting to have a warning of graphic content, others think that the warning would be beneficial to those who have experienced trauma. I do believe that having a trigger warning or a graphic content warning would be a beneficial thing to have. 

Having a trigger warning would be good to have for those who have experienced any sort of trauma in helping prevent them from reliving the event. What theaters should do is when purchasing the tickets for the performance, they should give a general warning as a movie would have with ‘G’ being suited for the general audience, ‘PG’ for parent guidance, ‘PG-13’, and ‘R’ saved for performances that have extreme graphic content. This way it does not spoil what could potentially occur during the play, and it allows the views to get into the mindset that there might be more disturbing content. If we give enough warning for those potentially triggering scenes then we can help make everyone’s viewing experience something that they remember for years later. 

There are people who believe that the trigger warnings would be a form of censorship over the theatre. That will cause theater to become unable to have certain performances because of what they might potentially contain. I personally do not think that having those warnings will restrict theatre. I feel that it will allow the theater to be more inclusive to people. By giving the trigger warning, they acknowledge that there are people who have these traumas and that will make people see that theater cares about the audience, creating an opportunity to have a connection on a deeper level. 

It should be the Director’s job to prepare the warning for scenes that could be considered graphic before the start of the show as well as making sure that when purchasing tickets, the tickets have the warning displayed. The Director should care about having the warning available because if enough of the audience has those triggers or relates to what is occurring during those traumatic scenes being portrayed, then it could come back onto the director for being the head of an unsavory or undesirable play. Triggers are serious, if there is not any sort of warning before a play containing serious and graphic content then it is ignoring how damaging trauma is. It would be inconsiderate and harmful to the theater community who do sufferer from trauma and may potentially be sensitive to triggers. 

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The value of political satire is that it allows people to express how they are feeling and what their opinions are. Political satire can be used to target other people, either mocking them for their political views or just insult them. While satire is originally meant to bring change through social humor and ridicule, but for it to work and change people’s views, it needs to be understood by the party being persuaded. Satire is also affected by the views of those trying to get a point across to another. For example, if a younger generation is attempting to change the views of the older generation it is going to be hard because of how each generation was raised. Each has lived through their own experiences, and each will have strong feelings about how things should be. When one is challenged then there will be much pushback.

I do not think that satire is toothless. It has existed since the Greeks; without satire, we would not have humor in changing people’s opinions, and we would not have the opportunity to explain different points of view on political issues. If satire has survived since the Greeks, there is no reason for it to fade and disappear. Our society thrives off of having an opinion and giving it to others. Using satire to discuss our opinions and political issues will continue to be a way of life. The man who did the Snowflake Cry cover was calling liberals and anyone who did not vote for former President Trump snowflakes. That insult is to make anyone against former President Trump seem weak and pathetic, it was not satire to me because I felt attacked. Personally, I do not like former President Trump. As a queer woman, he was very against who I am as a human. So being called a snowflake was a tad bit annoying. Which is the downfall of satire. If it offends or is straight-up mean, people will not find it humorous or worth paying attention to.

Satire belongs to anyone with an opinion, but it needs people to listen to their opinions. If there was not anyone to listen to, then their ideas and opinions would not be heard. There are popular ideas and not-so-popular opinions. By using satire to discuss and try to get others to agree to that opinion, it allows ideas to spread and discussed. In class, we talked about how SNL made fun of former President Trump’s speech and his co-speaker Sarah Palin. The humor was something that older generations would understand better than what we younger people would. That does not mean that it would not change our minds on different political viewpoints. It is something that heavily depends on the audience and the topic used for the satire. Satire is a great way to experience other people’s views and is a great way to poke at another group’s ideas and viewpoints. The main thing to be cautious of is making sure that the audience understands what is going on and that it does not become too serious and mean.

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