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Collectives
developed around an idea
Introduction:
Working through theme or idea presents an interesting challenge.
By its nature, drama requires that people be open to new things
and "go with the flow". Many people might argue that
working from idea prevents this process. However, ideas can be
modified and created from as easily as pure creative expression
if two conditions are met:
1. The people contributing the ideas express comments on the ideas
not on the other people who generate them.
2. The group searching for a collective bit of truth, but retains
the understanding that truth is relative.
What
is Theme?
A theme is the central statement that a work of art or literature
is making. It can take the form of a moral or of an impression
of belief. In developing theme, students need to remember that
a good theme is not stated outright, nor is repeated over and
over. A subtlety expressed theme with many personal touches is
the framework of a strong collective.
What is Idea based Drama?
You have gone through many exercises, assignments and intense
units of study. Now it’s time to focus on concepts we are
passionate about and find ideas. The ability to be thoughtful
is a key ability when trying to develop drama that challenges
the mind. Find an overall concept that fascinates the class, and
challenge yourselves to say something profound. Trying again and
again until you find one key idea that resonates with the group.
Thematic art comes through a synthesis of all you know intellectually,
understand intuitively, feel through experience and feelings,
and perceive through your beliefs. The central theme is a collective
expression of what you as a group wish to tell the world. Thematic
drama is fundamentally persuasive - the role of the group is illuminate
a central concept in the fabric of life.
Activities
"Getting Ideas"
The
following activities lead you through a process for developing
ideas. Use all, or a combination of exercises to explore ideas
and inspiration:
Activity 1 - Personal Survey of Beliefs:
Complete these statements on scrap paper.
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I
really like these things about myself ....
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I
wish I could change .....
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I
am most worried about .....
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I
am most excited about ....
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I
am most creative when ...
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I
feel most vulnerable when ....
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People
in this world need to remember .....
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Activity 2 - Brainstorm:
Using a whiteboard or blackboard, make a list of key issues
in today's society. There are no wrong responses. Generate
as many examples as you can of ideas that you care about.
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Activity 3 - Discussion:
• Look at the list of ideas on the board.
• Group like ideas.
• Hold a vote to determine which issue should be discussed
by the group. Each person should vote three times, and 3 issues
of key interest should be established.
• Appoint a recorder to write down important concepts.
Discuss each of the three issues for 10 min., then vote to
establish the overall issue for the group.
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Activity 4 - Devil's Advocate:
The group will have established a general consensus about
the topic to be discussed. Choose a position on the topic.
It should be a position that can be argued, and most class
members should agree with it. One class member or the teacher
can play the role of the Devil's Advocate. The whole class
argues one side, and the Devil's Advocate argues the other.
The key to the success of the activity is to argue the side
you are on, rather than your personal opinion. This activity
serves to clarify your views on controversial topics.
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Activity 5 - Explore
through Improv:
1.
Start a scene based on your key issue. Remind students to
approach the topic gradually. At any time, anybody may call
FREEZE and go in and change it subtlety by adding in a new
dimension, or by changing the objective.
2. Group Improv: start a scene and add in characters until
everybody is in the scene - at any point call out FREEZE and
ask one to do an internal monologue.
3. In partners discuss a scene with lots of conflict, where
might it be set? Try the scene and at any point the audience
can call FREEZE and make a suggestion for change, then let
it continue.
4. Start the scene with a phone, call someone and they then
call the next person, and on down the line until the first
person is called in the end to bring it full circle.
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Activity 6 - Explore through Representation
Create a piece of art that represents your feelings regarding
the group's topic. The teacher will provide a wide variety
art materials that might include: paint, paper, pastels or
crayons, scissors, glue, plasticene, and a drawing program
for the computer.
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Activity
7 - Writing:
1. View a rant (like those found on CBC's This Hour
Has 22 Minutes) and discuss the elements of a rant.
Write a rant that centers on the topic for discussion.
2.
Write a dialogue between two characters that has a conflict
that relates to the theme. Don't state the theme outright.
3.
Create a stream-of-consciousness piece about the central
theme. Do not to worry about mechanics or even logical flow
of ideas. Record anything that comes to your mind, even
if it seems initially unrelated. If you read your work to
the class, you may need to censure material that is not
appropriate for school. This should be done at the reading
stage, not the writing stage.
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Activity 8 - Collecting Quotes:
Search the Internet for quotations, articles or song lyrics
that relate to the theme. You should paste these into a word
processing document, along with the name of the person who
wrote them. The end product is a collage of words that should
be discussed as a class during the writing process. |
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