write a 3 to 5 page paper addressing ways in which communities (with an emphasis on underrepresented groups) have traditionally and/or presently engaged performance to celebrate their culture, including options related to how they have used performative tools to cope with, protest, respond, etc., to social issues, politics, climate change/environment, etc., during these difficult times.
This paper will follow the same kind of 4-part format as the response papers: descriptive, analytical, reflective, and critical (tie-ins with course content) related to two to three community performance examples addressing contrasting themes (i.e. comic personal COVID shelter in place video vs. social protests). Special attention should be placed on who is performing, and what is being performed. Follow these prompts (not exhaustive, meant as guidelines):
Descriptive Section: What is the community / neighborhood where the protest/performance/parade/event took place? What is the physical description of the site? The atmosphere? Can you tell the make-up of the intended audience or community that the performance connects with?
Analytical Section: What is/are the performer(s)s skill level or organization/preparedness? Were you able to identify any narratives or discourse relating to themes? In your opinion, how successful was the performance/ protest/parade/event in conveying its points to the community? Does the community (or others) respond in any way? How? Can you identify any central challenges and/or obstacles that the performer had to face? Can you identify key components and positive elements?
Reflective Section: What impressed / surprised you? Why? What worked or engaged you? Can you articulate a connection with larger community needs? In which way(s) are the performances relevant to the community? In which ways did they confirm what you already knew?
Critical Section: You must engage other course material: What aspects of the course work, discussions, and readings, including foundational readings and plays, can you relate to these performances?
Other course material:
Theory Contextual Background
* A Xicana Codex of Chainging Consciousness, by Cherrie Moraga
* Alienation Techniques, by Bertolt Brecht (summary from Beautiful Trouble) [intro]
* An Introduction to Performance Studies, by Richard Schechner (selected chapters) [intro]
* The Theater of Crisis, by Diana Taylor
* The Theatre of the Opressed, by Augusto Boal [Foreword, Introduction, The Ultimate Aim of Tragedy (p.26) till How
Aristlotles Coercive System of Tragedy Functions (p. 39)]
Plays (in the order in which will be read)
* Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles [foundational readings]
* Zoot Suit, by Luis Valdez [P1]
* Dutchman, by Amiri Baraka [P2]
* After the War Blues, by Philip Kan Gotanda [P3]
* Heroes & Saints, by Cherrie Moraga [P4]
* Fires in the Mirror, by Anna Deavere Smith [P5]
* Marisol, by Jose Rivera [P6]
* In The Blood, by Suzan-Lori Parks [P7]
* Madame Ho, by Eugenie Chan [P8]
* Braided Sorrow, by Marisela Orta [P9]
San Francisco-based options:
1. Carnaval San Francisco: Brilliant procession of contingents, most of which will feature beautifully adorned floats depicting rich multicultural themes and featuring performers who engage and entertain the crowds. Brazilian-style escola do samba schools, Mexican Aztec performers, traditional African drummers, Polynesian dancers, Japanese drummers, giant puppets and folkloric groups representing Guatemala, Honduras, Bolivia, etc.. http://www.carnavalsanfrancisco.org/parade
2. San Francisco Pride Parade: San Francisco Pride is one of the oldest and largest LGBTQIA parades in the world. Contingents march through the heart of the city, along Market Street, with more than 100,000 spectators. Over 270 contingents participated in the 2019 parade, making it one of the largest in the history of the event. https://sfpride.org
3. San Francisco Parol Lantern Festival: This festival of lanterns is the quintessential Filipino holyday parade. https://www.parollanternfestival.com
4. San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade: A San Franciscotradition since just after the Gold Rush, the parade continues to delight and entertain the many hundreds of thousands of people who come to watch it on the street or tune in to watch it on television. https://chineseparade.com/
5. Dia de los Muertos Parade & Altars: A San Francisco original started by visionary Mission artist Ren Yaez and Galeria de la Raza in the 1970s, this community event has endured to be the most relevant community event in the Fall. https://www.dayofthedeadsf.org/
*All papers will be checked with Turnitin, so be clear on your citations. 12-point font, one-inch margins top, side, bottom.
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