My lovely friend C from I-5 (as we lovingly call our Institute) is connecting me to a friend of hers who, among other things, helps build libraries in Ghana. Yea for connections! The reason I am focusing on Ghana with this project is because I studied abroad there last year for 5 months. I volunteered with Refuge Baptist Primary School at the Liberian Refugee Camp/Settlement for about 4 months, as well as occasionally visiting, assisting and learning with the Liberian Dance Troupe. I had the wonderful experience of hanging out not only with Ghanaians, but with Liberians and a few Ivorians! J'ai pratiqué mon francais terrible avec des amis qui habitaient en Côte D'Ivoire avant le guerre ici.
That said, I have a lot of different avenues I can explore with this. I chose to focus on the issue of casual negativity in teenagers because I was inspiried by a friend's non-profit, W.A.N.T. or Women Against Negative Talk. I need community partners in the United States, specifically in the Los Angeles-ish area, which is another reason why I decided to connect with her. Nothing has gone past my posting of the propsoal in the previous post. Here is an outline of my connections, and their geographical areas. I am using first initials of friends and peers in order to protect privacy.
1. Ghana
-Friend S who started an NGO with my mom to help fund scholarships at Liberia camp and his home town in Ghana. Grad student at the uni I studied at last year.
-Advisor/mentor Rev. A, professor of Theatre for Development. Amazing, amazing man, who is a pastor at a semi-local church.
2. Liberia
-E of the Liberian Dance Troupe. Just moved back to Liberia after being gone for at least 16 years, I believe.
-L of Refuge Baptist Primary School. Also just moved back to Liberia with his family.
3. Bolivia
-Friend A from I-5. She is doing a two year residency with a group whose name escapes me at this point. A very brave woman.
4. United States
-Friend J from I-5, lives in San Francisco. Fantastic rescource
-Friend T from I-5, lives in Portland. Super passionate. Can lead Theatre of the Oppressed workshops.
-My US connections are too many to list.
While I have friends in other parts of the world, they aren't necessarily theatre people.
December produced zero productivity. So much for that time off! I need to get over my own procrastination.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Brief Introduction
My name is Mary. This blog will be used to document a community-based theatre project I have been thinking and writing about since I participated in the Cornerstone Institute over the summer of 2008. I have a rough proposal completed. While the proposal outlined below is focused on a particular subject, my main goal is to connect a community in Ghana with a community in Simi Valley, California, where I currently live.
Part of the purpose of this blog is to create public accountability for myself. I need all kinds of support to make this actually happen, but given that I am still in the planning stages, I need brainstorming and networking help. Putting this on the internet means I cannot let this idea of mine idle away. I have lots of free time coming up. I am a stage manager by trade, and also work in the theatre business as my "support job." No show this month!
Here are my goals for December:
Without further ado, here is my proposal as it stands right now! I took out references to specific artist names and locations to protect privacy.
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"Using Art and Performance to Combat Casual Negativity with Young Women"
Background/Why: Whether it comes from the media, pop culture, their peers or something inside, casual negativity and self-deprecating comments around young women are very common. In an age when young women are told they can be whatever they want to be, we still find ourselves in a judgmental society that encourages women to feel inadequate. Allowing this to continue results in a reinforced negative environment.
Doing this project in two locations simultaneously accomplishes many goals. First of all, it allows women of different cultures to learn from each other. It also allows for a richer collaborative experience by introducing different metaphors, ways of creative expression and more. In connecting these two groups, one can also start a global campaign to foster environments where women love and accept themselves.
Aims & Objectives: My aim is to use both visual art and performance to explore the theme of casual negativity and how to foster a healthy body image of oneself. I want to broaden myself in using visual art because it allows a larger group of women to be involved in the final project. If someone cannot commit to the entire workshop, then they can leave behind a piece of art, or contribute to a group mural, in order to have their words and stories represented.
Justification: In America, there are countless examples of popular print and digital publications that focus on a women's body, and the way it should be. From the tabloids who cover who has the best beach body, and likewise, who has the worst, to fashion magazines whose models are rail thin, this portrayal of women, and the judgemental attitude that oftentimes accompanies it, aids in promoting negative self esteem in young girls.
There are exceptions of course. More Magazine focuses more on “plus-size” women. Their content, including advertisments, showcases a wide variety of women's bodies. The company Dove has had a regular ad campaign featuring women of many ethnicities and sizes.
The goal of this project is not to attack the media for how it portrays women. However, it does have a profound impact on how young women view themselves.
Methodology: There are three main artistic components of this project: visual art installations, such as murals, movement work and collaborative writing. Using tool such as cultural mapping, exploring the respective communities in a visual way and general questions, participants will have the opportunity to be part of the final product no matter how much they can commit to the project. Some of these exercises come from the methodology of Cornerstone Theatre Company, a community-based theatre company in Los Angeles, California. Other exercises will be derived from brainstorming sessions with other artists.
Target Group/Lab Site: There are two lab sites: a community center of sorts in Simi Valley, California, which is to be determined and a site in Ghana, which is also to be determined.
We are targeting young women ages 12-18. I want to use a wider age range so that we can get more stories represented, and also have an opportunity for the younger women to learn from the older, and vice versa.
Hypothesis: Participants in this workshop will gain tools to not only curb casual negativity within themselves, but also how to encourage other people to make similar choices.
Expected Outcome: Not completed at this moment!
Budget: Budget will depend on the community partners in Simi Valley, and the resources that both lab sites can can offer. Note: This will be much more fleshed out in the next month. I need to be very specific about what my needs are, and how I will attain them.
--
Please give your thoughts in the comments. This proposal is so rough it's ridiculous. Right now, I need specific guidance on subject ideas.
Part of the purpose of this blog is to create public accountability for myself. I need all kinds of support to make this actually happen, but given that I am still in the planning stages, I need brainstorming and networking help. Putting this on the internet means I cannot let this idea of mine idle away. I have lots of free time coming up. I am a stage manager by trade, and also work in the theatre business as my "support job." No show this month!
Here are my goals for December:
- Finish my proposal
- Come up with at least two subjects I could use to connect and explore my chosen communities.
- Tell other artists, friends, and family about this blog and encourage them to ask me questions and contribute the process. I love collaboration.
Without further ado, here is my proposal as it stands right now! I took out references to specific artist names and locations to protect privacy.
--
"Using Art and Performance to Combat Casual Negativity with Young Women"
Background/Why: Whether it comes from the media, pop culture, their peers or something inside, casual negativity and self-deprecating comments around young women are very common. In an age when young women are told they can be whatever they want to be, we still find ourselves in a judgmental society that encourages women to feel inadequate. Allowing this to continue results in a reinforced negative environment.
Doing this project in two locations simultaneously accomplishes many goals. First of all, it allows women of different cultures to learn from each other. It also allows for a richer collaborative experience by introducing different metaphors, ways of creative expression and more. In connecting these two groups, one can also start a global campaign to foster environments where women love and accept themselves.
Aims & Objectives: My aim is to use both visual art and performance to explore the theme of casual negativity and how to foster a healthy body image of oneself. I want to broaden myself in using visual art because it allows a larger group of women to be involved in the final project. If someone cannot commit to the entire workshop, then they can leave behind a piece of art, or contribute to a group mural, in order to have their words and stories represented.
Justification: In America, there are countless examples of popular print and digital publications that focus on a women's body, and the way it should be. From the tabloids who cover who has the best beach body, and likewise, who has the worst, to fashion magazines whose models are rail thin, this portrayal of women, and the judgemental attitude that oftentimes accompanies it, aids in promoting negative self esteem in young girls.
There are exceptions of course. More Magazine focuses more on “plus-size” women. Their content, including advertisments, showcases a wide variety of women's bodies. The company Dove has had a regular ad campaign featuring women of many ethnicities and sizes.
The goal of this project is not to attack the media for how it portrays women. However, it does have a profound impact on how young women view themselves.
Methodology: There are three main artistic components of this project: visual art installations, such as murals, movement work and collaborative writing. Using tool such as cultural mapping, exploring the respective communities in a visual way and general questions, participants will have the opportunity to be part of the final product no matter how much they can commit to the project. Some of these exercises come from the methodology of Cornerstone Theatre Company, a community-based theatre company in Los Angeles, California. Other exercises will be derived from brainstorming sessions with other artists.
Target Group/Lab Site: There are two lab sites: a community center of sorts in Simi Valley, California, which is to be determined and a site in Ghana, which is also to be determined.
We are targeting young women ages 12-18. I want to use a wider age range so that we can get more stories represented, and also have an opportunity for the younger women to learn from the older, and vice versa.
Hypothesis: Participants in this workshop will gain tools to not only curb casual negativity within themselves, but also how to encourage other people to make similar choices.
Expected Outcome: Not completed at this moment!
Budget: Budget will depend on the community partners in Simi Valley, and the resources that both lab sites can can offer. Note: This will be much more fleshed out in the next month. I need to be very specific about what my needs are, and how I will attain them.
--
Please give your thoughts in the comments. This proposal is so rough it's ridiculous. Right now, I need specific guidance on subject ideas.
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