Tag: Michael Najjar

The Western Genre and Gun Violence in United States Culture: Using Theatre as a Laboratory for Social Critique

Presenter: Ariella Wolfe

Mentors: Michael Najjar, Theatre Arts; Mark Carey, Honors College

Oral Presentation

Major: Theatre Arts

The contemporary theatre director has the opportunity to encourage socially critical thought during the production process and in theatergoing audiences. This study seeks to demonstrate how the Western genre, which has mythicized the way of life on the United States frontier during westward expansion, can be used as a framework to understand the prevalence of gun violence in the contemporary United States. Moreover, the project endeavors to explore the theatre as a forum to address this issue. My methodology incorporates an application of my synthesis of Bertolt Brecht’s dialectical theatre to my direction of Afterlife, a Western genre play by Nicholas J. Maurer. The play suggests parallels between the issues of gun violence in the Western genre and present concerns regarding gun violence in our contemporary society. Following each performance I conducted post-show discussions with audience members to qualitatively assess how they critically engage with the cultural norms of gun use and gun violence.

This study presents an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on theatre directing theory, performance studies, history and sociology. The central argument of this thesis is that a socially conscious approach to theatre directing—taking into account the cultural, economic and social forces shaping the characters’ actions—will encourage audiences to engage cultural questions and recognize their ability to transform society. This research hopes to contribute to ongoing investigations that articulate the significance of theatre as a tool for social critique and social change.

Documentary and Verbatim Drama: The Practice and Performance of Responsible Non-fiction Theater

Presenter(s): Kelsey Tidball − Journalism

Faculty Mentor(s): Michael Najjar

Poster 115

Research Area: Performing Arts

Journalism and theater are often considered separate entities with separate goals. One is traditionally non-fiction, while the other is traditionally imaginative and fictional. But what happens when the lines between these two art forms are blurred? Documentary and Verbatim Theater is a genre of theater that combines journalism and theater and works to incite social change, encourage community healing, and engage public empathy and awareness. Documentary and Verbatim Theater artists gather information from news articles, paper trails, interviews and public knowledge to tell stories about real people, places and events. They work like investigative journalists, compiling all of this found information and crafting characters, stories, and dialogue that often become full-fledged dramatic plays based on significant or traumatic events. In my research, I discuss the recent surge in popularity of Documentary and Verbatim Theater, looking at successful productions, discussing effective and ineffective techniques, and researching theater artists who have become known for their documentary work. I look at the space where journalism and theater intersect, and I discuss the ethical, social, and political value of creating and performing Non-fiction Theater. I argue that, while Documentary and Verbatim Theater offers unique challenges for the playwright and performers, its social and political significance makes it a worthwhile pursuit, and, in addition to my more traditional research, I am also crafting my own piece of Documentary and Verbatim Theater about young women who have studied abroad.