Presentation1
- 1. CommunityCommunityFor my event; I went to watch black light theatre. Black Light theatre is a theatrical performance style characterized by the use of black box theatre augmented by black light illusion. Throughout the performance the dancers created a number of striking images. The performance alternated between a mime that told the story of a bank robbery and the futile attempts of the police officer to stop them and the vibrant dancing of the black light performers. There were many moments and images that reminded the audience of the existence of this criminal world, how we can be drawn in and the processes that drive it.The exigence of the piece was to inform the audience of the dangerous and criminal world that lurks so close to the safe and comfortable world inhibited by the audience members. As theatre goers the audience came to the performance ready to interpret, and where therefore much more susceptible to absorb the subtle messages that encouraged action and vigilance against the negative processes that threaten a community. This presentation seeks to describe the scenes which the performance used to put forth the message of resistance against small scale crime and the mechanisms and strategies suggested. HateDrugsCommunityAngerViolenceAbuse
- 2. Drugs; The scene took place in a bar and featured the police officer and the prostitute, who was implicit in the bank robbery. The police officer tracks down the prostitute for questioning, only to have his drink spiked. Upon having his drink spiked the officer becomes visibly intoxicated and allows the prostitute to escape. It is significant that the prostitute used drugs; it was an example of processes that drive the criminal world. The effect they had upon the police officer was an example of their corrupting impact; an emphatic reminder that they are to be avoided. The ease with which the police officer was duped is also poignant. It is very easy to be conned into drug use to be manipulated, awareness that you may be susceptible is important. Protect yourself avoid nefarious characters be aware and be conscious. The scene also provides a more obvious message, watch what is in your drink. Following a performance at a theatre it is not uncommon for the audience to leave and frequent the many bars surrounding the theatres. The bars are a location in which two worlds combine the are characters from all works of life, and you are at risk of being take advantage, be aware, be safe learn from the performance and do not allow yourself to be taken advantage of.
- 3. Violence; Inherent to the criminal world was the use of violence and intimidation, the actors playing the bank robbers exuded tough and hostile attitudes. Tied in with the idea of violence was the gun crime depicted in the performance, each of the three bank robbers were armed with a different fire arm; pistol, shotgun and rifle.This sends a powerful message to the audience; the variety and of weapons available is frightening. Concealed weapons, high impact, high velocity, long range weapons featured in the play. Furthermore, the are the hands of aggressive and ruthless criminals, if you want to make society safer, then greater regulation is required. Access to guns must limited. In the play the police officer is depicted without a gun, this does two things it makes him helpless at times, again a reminder that access to guns is making criminals a much more dangerous prospect. However, the policeman is depicted as moral and good an example of the values that society should uphold. By depicting the officer without a gun, it informs the audience that this is an example they should strive to follow. Reduced use of guns will make society safer push to make communities gun free reduce the ease with which villainous characters can access guns, this is the key to safer communities.
- 4. Abuse; The performance also evoked sympathy for some of the criminal characters in the play. The prostitute is a tragic character, she is set upon by the other bank robbers, who make aggressive sexual advances on her. Her life is wrought with drug use and prostitution. To some extent it condones her involvement in the bank robbery; as character trying to escape a life wrought with abuse. It sends a powerful message to the audience. The criminal world is obviously a harsh environment but it is often driven by victimization and hurt. When trying to address this problem it encourages the audience to think of criminals as people rather than violent animals. When trying to make communities safer it forces the audience to take an introspective look; how would they handle such difficult situations? Immoral activities fuel illegal activities, where are the sanctuaries that the prostitute could escape to. The audience where pushed to think about community based solutions systems that help victims of drug abuse and sexual abuse, lest one day they see someone they care about forced into a life of crime.
- 5. Anger; The dancing that mirrored the mime often saw vigorous and violent dancing, it was representative of the anger of the criminal characters. They were reckless and ruthless because they were angry they were without love or companionship and they brought a bitter edge to the performance. Watching the performance the audience was forced to question how happy they were. Anger in the performance was a motive that encouraged crime, crime was the backlash. As a parent watching the performance, how could you not question whether your family was happy, are they infected with criminal anger, surely you must stop it before it becomes a problem. The performance sent a blunt message to the crowd at the theatre, unless you find happiness and can provide some kind of source of joy to those around you it will be hard to foster a sense of community to prevent the next generation from facing the problems that the criminals faced. How does one provide happiness is also a thought provoking question. Is it schooling, family, relationships, by showing the anger that drove the villains it forced the audience to think about everyday issues that promote happiness and foster a safer an improved community.
- 6. Hate; There was great animosity between the two groups in the play, it was reflected by the vigor with which the policeman pursued the robbers, and the aggression his efforts are met with. The hatred that the police officers exude towards the villains often clouds their sense of morality.In one particular scene the dancers act out an interrogation in which a police officer beats the detainee. The integrator has the wrong man and his brutality is frowned upon by the audience.The audience is reminded that hate does not produce solutions, that we must foster a sense of understanding, that there must be a sense of trust between the groups. How can an individual ever cross over into the world of safety if he does not believe he will be welcomed there.The audience is responsible for removing its own social prejudices for not hating a criminal, understanding that there are grey moral areas and that no one is perfect. This provides accessibility for those trying to change there criminal ways for those seeking a better path, how could the prostitute ever get out of the criminal world and move into a caring community if it is riddled with hate and mistrust.
- 7. Community; The performance also offered a solution to the threat that criminals pose to local communities. In one scene a dancer is encapsulated inside a small sphere the dancing outside the sphere is aggressive, representative of the anger and violence of the criminal world. The sphere eventually breaks and the dancer is swarmed by the other aggressive dancers, yet slowly the dancing becomes smoother and the dancer who was once trapped in the box becomes the focal point. It was a reminder that you can not close yourself off from the problems outside your bubble, eventually you will have to accept that there is trouble that exists close to the worlds we inhibit. It encourages you to actively help in the community, there are points in the routine where the once enclosed dancer teaches the others the routine, an example that education is the key. Take action and strive to educate. Participants in the performance make an explicit statement that education is the key, the audience could then chose to act upon this in a number of ways. Educate themselves, perhaps ensure that children in the community have sufficient education to have more opportunities than the villains in the play.Ultimately the audience is encouraged to take action, and the movie explicitly encourages them that a policy focused around education is the best way.