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Augusto Boal (born 1931 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is an innovative and influential theatrical director, writer and politician. He is the founder of Theatre of the Oppressed (T.O.), a political theatrical form originally used in radical popular education movements, growing up alongside Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Boal was elected as a Vereador (Brazilian equivalent of city council seat in US politics) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 but he was not re-elected in 1996. He received a Ph. D. in Chemical engineering from Columbia University in the 1950s. 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ...
Location of Rio de Janeiro Coordinates: Country Brazil Region Southeast State Rio de Janeiro - Mayor Cesar Maia (PFL) Area - City 1,260 km² (486. ...
A theatre director is a principal in the theatre field who oversees and orchestrates the mounting of a play by unifying various endeavors and aspects of production. ...
The term writer can apply to anyone who creates a written work, but the word more usually designates those who write creatively or professionally, or those who have written in many different forms. ...
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Oppression is the negative outcome experienced by people targeted by the arbitrary and cruel exercise of power in a society or social group. ...
Paulo Freire Paulo Freire (Recife, Brazil September 19, 1921 - São Paulo, Brazil May 2, 1997) was a Brazilian educator and influential theorist of education. ...
Pedagogy of the Oppressed is the most widely known of Paulo Freires works. ...
1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with the application of physical science, e. ...
Columbia University is a private research university whose main campus lies in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of the Borough of Manhattan in New York City. ...
// Recovering from World War II and its aftermath, the economic miracle emerged in West Germany and Italy. ...
Career Boal took an interest in theatre at an early age, but did not become involved himself until he received his degree. Shortly after graduating from university, Boal was asked to work with the Arena Theatre in São Paulo, southeast Brazil. It was here that he began to experiment with new forms of theatre that would totally change its future. Serge Sudeikins poster for the Bat Theatre (1922). ...
This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...
Boal’s teachings caused a lot of controversy, and he was labeled a cultural activist — which the 1960s Brazilian military coups saw as a threat. In 1971, Boal was arrested, tortured, and eventually exiled to Argentina, where he published his first book "Theatre of the Oppressed" in 1973, later fleeing to Europe. Eventually Boal lived in Paris, teaching his revolutionary approach to theatre for twelve years, and creating several Centers for the Theatre of Oppressed. In 1981, he organized the first ever International Festival of the Theatre of Oppressed in Paris. 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday. ...
City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Paris Eiffel tower as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ...
After the end of Brazil’s military junta, Boal returned to Rio de Janeiro where he still lives today. He has since established a major Centre for the Theatre of the Oppressed in Rio (CTO Rio), and has started over a dozen theatre companies that work to develop community-based projects. General Augusto Pinochet (sitting) as head of the newly established military junta in Chile, September 1973. ...
Paulo Freire was a major influence on Boal’s teachings. He and Freire became so close in later years, that when Freire died, Boal is reported to have said: Paulo Freire Paulo Freire (Recife, Brazil September 19, 1921 - São Paulo, Brazil May 2, 1997) was a Brazilian educator and influential theorist of education. ...
- I am very sad. I have lost my last father. Now all I have are brothers and sisters.
Teachings and literature Among a number of publications, the three most Major works of Literature by Augusto Boal are: - Theatre of the Oppressed (published in UK 1979, Pluto Press)
- Games for Actors and Non-Actors (1992, Routledge) Translated into English by Adrian Jackson
- The Rainbow of Desire (1995, Routledge) Translated into English by Adrian Jackson
Most of Augusto Boal’s techniques were created after he realised the limitations of didactic politically motivated theatre in poor areas he was practising in. He found that his attempts to inspire the people living in poor or 'slum' areas to rise up against racial and class inequality was inhibited by his own racial and class background (himself being white and comparatively financially comfortable). Therefore he created techniques which allowed the idea of rebellion and the impetus for change to come from within the target group. Much of his early work and teaching was inspired by a Marxist philosophy, although through his career he has not been restricted by this and much of his work now falls within the boundaries of a centre left ideology. Adrian Jackson (born June 12, 1970) is My Dying Brides bassist. ...
Adrian Jackson (born June 12, 1970) is My Dying Brides bassist. ...
The Didactic is facts based as opposed to the Dialectic which is feelings based. ...
Serge Sudeikins poster for the Bat Theatre (1922). ...
Marxism is the political practice and social theory based on the works of Karl Marx, a 19th century philosopher, economist, journalist, and revolutionary, along with Friedrich Engels. ...
For other uses, see Philosophy (disambiguation). ...
The term centre-left has two distinct meanings in politics: Centre-left can be used to describe and denote political parties or organisations that stretch from the centre to the left or are moderately left-wing, as opposed to extreme left wing beliefs such as communism. ...
Theatre of the Oppressed This is probably Augusto Boal's most academically influential work in which the reader follows Boal’s detailed analysis of the Poetics of Aristotle and the early history of western theatre. It is argued that the Aristotelian ethic is a means of oppressing the masses, the people, the workers and the spectators in favour of stability and continued dominance of a privileged few. He argues that via the use of Tragi-drama, a formulaic drama style which today could be considered similar to that of soap operas, the State promotes its continued existence. Therefore oppressive states, such as the Brazilian government of the time, from Boal's perspective, use theatre to propagate their oppressive system. He then lays down his early theories and practices in an attempt to reverse this dominant paradigm. Aristotles Poetics aims to give an account of poetry. ...
In general usage a tragedy is a play, movie or sometimes a real world event with a sad outcome. ...
For Philippine soap opera, see Teleserye. ...
Since the late 1960s, the word paradigm has referred to a thought pattern in any scientific discipline or other epistemological context. ...
Games For Actors and Non-Actors (second edition 2002) This is probably Augusto Boal's most practically influential book in which he sets down a brief explanation of his theories, mostly through stories and examples of his work in Europe, and then explains every drama exercise that he has found useful in his practice. In many ways it is everything that 'Theatre of the Oppressed' is not: it contains little academic theory, instead relying upon practical example. Therefore drama practitioners have found this to be a particularly useful reference book whether or not they are practicing theatre that is related to Boal's academic or political ideas. It is arguably the best collection of drama exercises/games (Boal himself refers to many of these as 'gamesercises', as they combine the training and 'introversion' of exercises with the fun and 'extroversion of games') currently in circulation and has been largely influential in the development of Community Theatre and Theatre in Education (T.I.E.) practices in Europe, South America and worldwide. This does not cite its references or sources. ...
It has been suggested that Amateur theatre be merged into this article or section. ...
Theatre in Education(TIE) TIE is a way to teaching morals, rules and life problems to children, normally within 4-16 years of age, through theatre and fictional characters. ...
The Rainbow of Desire Also known as The Boal Method of Theatre and Therapy, this book re-evaluates the practices commonly associated with the Theatre of the Oppressed for a new purpose. It has been argued that Boal contradicts himself with this take on his work as it mostly concerns itself with creating harmony within society when his early work was concerned with rebellion and upheaval. However, Boal's works can be seen as a progression and exploration of a Left Wing world view rather than a unified theory. Therefore, in the context of those under-represented in a society, his methodology can be used as a weapon against oppressors. In the context of those in a society who are in need of catharsis for the sake of their own integration into it, it can be switched round to empower that individual to break down internal oppressions that separate that individual from society. The theories have been useful in the pioneering field of drama therapy and have been applied by drama practitioners. In politics, left-wing, political left, leftism, or simply the left, are terms that refer (with no particular precision) to the segment of the political spectrum typically associated with any of several strains of socialism, social democracy, or liberalism (especially but not exclusively in the American sense of the word...
Catharsis is the Greek Katharsis word meaning purification or cleansing derived from the ancient Greek gerund καθαίÏειν transliterated as kathairein to purify, purge, and adjective katharos pure or clean (ancient and modern Greek: καθαÏός). // The term in drama refers to a sudden emotional breakdown or climax that constitutes overwhelming feelings of great...
Drama therapy is a health and human services profession that seeks to facilitate physical integration and personal growth for individuals, couples, families, and various groups through the use of theatrical and dramatic processes. ...
Key terms and practices
Forum Theatre While practicing in China earlier in his career, Boal would apply 'simultaneous dramaturgy'. In this process the actors or audience members could stop a performance, often a short scene in which a character was being oppressed in some way (for example, a typically chauvinist man mistreating a woman or a factory owner mistreating an employee). The audience would suggest different actions for the actors to carry out on-stage in an attempt to change the outcome of what they were seeing. This was an attempt to undo the traditional audience/actor partition and bring audience members into the performance, to have an input into the dramatic action they were watching. Dramaturgy is the art of dramatic composition and the representation of the main elements of drama on the stage. ...
Chauvinism is extreme and unreasoning partisanship on behalf of a group to which one belongs, especially when the partisanship includes malice and hatred towards a rival group. ...
Forum Theatre was born from 'simultaneous dramaturgy' when, according to Boal, by chance a (female) audience member who was so frustrated that the actor did not understand her directions, took their place. This undid the audience/actor split and a new form of political theatre was created. He discovered that through this active participation the audience-actors, 'spect-actors', become empowered. This concept of the 'spect-actor' became a dominant force within Boal's later Forum Theatre work. The audience were now encouraged to not only imagine change but to actually practise that change, reflect collectively on the suggestion, and thereby become empowered to generate social action. . ...
Thus, Boal's current manifestation of Forum Theatre is as follows: the actors (be they professional or drawn from oppressed communities) perform a play with a scripted core, in which an oppression relevant to the audience is played out. After reaching the scripted conclusion, in which the oppressed character(s) fail to overturn their oppression, the actors begin the production again, although often in a condensed form. At any point during this second performance, any spect-actor may call out "stop!" and take the place of the actor portraying the oppressed individual (this actor stays on stage but to the side, giving suggestions to the spect-actor who has replaced him/her).
The spect-actor then attempts to overturn the oppression using some method unused by the actors, whilst the actors portraying the oppressors improvise to attempt to bring the production to its original, scripted ending. If the audience believes that the spect-actor's actions are too unrealistic to be utilized in reality, they may call out "magic!", and the spect-actor must modify their actions accordingly. If this spect-actor fails in overthrowing the oppression, the actor resumes his/her character, and continues the production until another spect-actor calls out "stop!" and attempts a different method. Philosophically, improvisation often focuses on bringing ones personal awareness into the moment, and on developing a profound understanding for the action one is doing. ...
If and when the oppression has been overthrown by the spect-actors, the production changes again: the spect-actors now have the opportunity to replace the oppressors, and find new ways of challenging the oppressed character. In this way a more realistic depiction of the oppression can be made by the audience, who are often victims of the oppression. The whole process is designed to be dialectic, coming to a conclusion through the consideration of opposing arguments, rather than didactic, in which the moral argument is one-sided and pushed from the actors with no chance of reply or counter-argument. In classical philosophy, dialectic (Greek: διαλεκτική) is an exchange of propositions (theses) and counter-propositions (antitheses) resulting in a synthesis of the opposing assertions, or at least a qualitative transformation in the direction of the dialogue. ...
Didacticism is an artistic philosophy that emphasizes instructional and informative qualities in literature and other types of art. ...
Invisible Theatre -
This is a previously rehearsed play that is performed in a public space without anyone knowing that it is a play. It will address a precise theme concerning social injustice, for example sexism, racism or ageism. It is intended to provoke debate and to clarify the problem among the people whom experience it. Invisible Theater is a form of performance in which the show is enacted in a place where people would not normally expect to see a show, for example in the street or in a shopping centre. ...
It has been suggested that Sex discrimination be merged into this article or section. ...
Manifestations Slavery · Racial profiling · Lynching Hate speech · Hate crime · Hate groups Genocide · Holocaust · Pogrom Ethnocide · Ethnic cleansing · Race war Religious persecution · Gay bashing Movements Discriminatory Aryanism · Neo-Nazism · Supremacism Fundamentalism · Kahanism Anti-discriminatory Abolitionism · Civil rights · Gay rights Womens/Universal suffrage · Mens rights Childrens rights · Youth rights...
Manifestations Slavery · Racial profiling Hate speech · Hate crime Lynching · Gay bashing Genocide · Holocaust Ethnocide · Ethnic cleansing Pogrom · Race war Religious persecution Movements Discriminatory Aryanism · Neo-Nazism White/Black supremacy Hate groups · Kahanism Anti-discriminatory Abolitionism Womens/Universal suffrage Civil rights · Gay rights Childrens rights · Youth rights Policies Discriminatory...
The actors involved will work to a scripted core, but improvisation is necessary as the whole purpose of the theatre is to get the community involved in discussing the issue being performed. Often the actors will not just consist of the oppressors and the oppressed, but also those pretending to be passers-by who voice strong (and contrasting) opinions on the subject, as a means of encouraging the 'real' passers-by to do the same.
The logistics of Invisible theatre involve both the antagonist and victim of a social injustice being played out by actors in a public space. Therefore those practicing Invisible Theatre are often seen as Activists and it is not uncommon for them to come into conflict with the authorities and/or police. However, it should never be violent, as its aim is to reveal the violence that exists in society, not to reproduce it. Activism, in a general sense, can be described as involvement in action to bring about change, be it social, political, environmental, or other change. ...
Image Theatre A form of theatre that begins with movement to achieve a static result. Participants are asked to sculpt the bodies of themselves and/or others into representations of a particular situation, emotion, or idea on their own, and then move into a group and re-form the images they have created to form a picture or 'image'. Boal's philosophy behind this form of theatre is that the body is the first and primary method of expression, and by using the body rather than speech, the normal 'blockades' and 'filters' of thought can be bypassed. Boal encourages the participants to immediately create an image rather than think about it, as thought would defeat the purpose of expressing raw, unrefined perceptions on an idea or issue. Generally, this form of theatre is also used to express oppressions.
Image theatre is also dialectic, as those who view the image created are also able to 'mold' and 'sculpt' the bodies of the participants to more accurately portray their opinions on the issue. This process is repeated until a general consensus is found, in which all are content that the image is an accurate representation.
In keeping with Boal's philosophy of theatre for empowerment, images may also be created of the 'ideal image', in which the oppression is overthrown. This is followed by an 'image of transition', a medium between the reality of the oppression and the ideal image, which again hopefully offers some insight into a manner of overthrowing the oppression in reality.
The images may often also be dynamised: that is, the image is altered and changed to express different facets of the issue. This is done in three ways:
- First dynamisation: the participants move back to form the image, but simultaneously rather than separately. In this way, they are aware of each other, and of the image as a whole, rather than their own, individual pose.
- Second dynamisation: the participants alter their images slightly so that they interrelate with the other people on the stage. Their poses must relate to each other, in such a way that creates, rather than many individual perspectives, a single perspective that encompasses all views.
- Third dynamisation: The participants transform themselves from depicting the oppressed to posing as the oppressors. As participants are often victims of oppression, this vision is highly subjective, yet gives real insight into the attitudes of the participants.
Newspaper Theatre A system of twelve techniques which give the audience the means of production rather than the finished artistic product. They are devised to help anyone to make a theatrical scene using a piece of news from a newspaper, or from any other written material.
Legislative Theatre As part of Boal's role as Vereador, he created the new form of theatre called legislative theatre to give his electors the opportunity to voice their opinions. The concept is similar to forum theatre; however, the subject of the production is based around a proposed law to be passed. Spect-actors may take the stage and express their opinion, and thus help with the creation of new laws. Some 20 laws were created through legislative theatre during Boal's time in government. Additionally, the technique has been used overseas in countries including Canada and the United Kingdom.
Joker/Facilitator Much of Augusto Boal’s theatrical process requires a neutral party to be at the centre of proceedings, in most cases, but not all, this would be a Drama workshop leader. This person must never comment upon or intervene in what they are seeing, as this is the sole responsibility of the Spect-actor. This person merely takes responsibility for the logistical running of the process and ensures a fair proceeding.
In Western practice the name of this individual is usually the Facilitator, although in Boal’s literature this role is referred to as the Joker. This is in reference to the neutrality of the Joker card in a deck of playing cards.
Spect-actor This is a term created by Augusto Boal to describe those engaged in Forum Theater. It refers to the dual role of those involved in the process as both being spectator and actor, as they both observe and create dramatic meaning and action in any performance.
Equally, the term 'spect-actor' can be attributed to the participants in invisible theatre (who are unaware that they are part of a theatrical production, but nevertheless contribute to the discussion) and image theatre (who, upon viewing the image created, may alter it to reflect their own ideas).
Recognition In 1994, Boal won the UNESCO Pablo Picasso Medal, and in August 1997 he was awarded the 'Career Achievement Award' by the Association of Theatre in Higher Education at their national conference in Chicago, Illinois, where he conducted a five-hour workshop for conference attendees as well as collecting the award. Boal went on a first major tour of the US in February and March, 1999, traveling to various universities and colleges, many of which now have student T.O. companies working regularly on Boal’s techniques. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ...
Pablo Ruiz Picasso (October 25, 1881 – April 8, 1973) was a Spanish painter and sculptor. ...
Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town, City of the Big Shoulders, The 312, The City that Works Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook & DuPage Incorporated March 4, 1837 - Mayor...
See also It has been suggested that Amateur theatre be merged into this article or section. ...
Improvisational Theatre (also known as improv or impro) is a form of theatre in which the actors perform spontaneously, without a script. ...
Theatre for Development, or TfD, means live performance, or theater used as a development tool -- as in international development. ...
Playback Theatre is an original form of improvisational theatre in which audience or group members tell stories from their lives and watch them enacted on the spot. ...
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