Empathy

According to Hamlet, theatre holds a mirror up to nature. What is nature? For most of Western civilization, it was assumed that the structure of human society was "natural." In other words, societal norms were thought to be reflective of a natural law which was itself reflective of a supernatural law. Viewed through the lens of this paradigm, theatre reflects a human nature and a human society that is unchangeable.

Augusto Boal however, believed that theatre should be a mirror in which one can reach in to change reality. The societal norms which we take for granted as "natural," are often in fact systems of oppression. According to Boal, most of Western theatre has been used as a tool for those in power. Echoing Brecht, he criticizes the Aristotelian tragi-drama in that it perpetuates the continued political dominance of a privileged few. Boal's experiments in theatre (Image Theatre, Invisible Theatre, and Forum Theatre) were geared towards evoking change. As Maggie says, in Boal's approach "the lines between oppressor and oppressed were a bit muddy." With his "cop in the head" technique, he makes the average person ask, "Why didn't I do anything?"

For true change to occur in society, a growth in human empathy is essential. Maggie asks, "what is the next step theatre must take in order to create new dialogue, initiate change, and hopefully combat age-old issues of oppressors vs. oppressed." I don't have any specific ideas about the particular forms that theatre might utilize. I do however, think that the overall aim of theatre should be to create empathy. The great acting teacher Michael Chekov once said, "Compassion may be called the fundamental of all good art because it alone can tell you what other beings feel and experience." If humanity has any hope of evolving beyond what Maggie classifies as the "age-old issues of oppressors vs. oppressed," it will be because of empathy. It is only when I cease to see other human beings as "Other," that true human community becomes possibly.

Maggie also asks if there ever becomes a time when theatre stops being the answer. I don't that theatre is ever "the answer." I think that theatre is one tool among many. Some forms of theatre will be more effective than others depending upon the particular issue.