One of my favorite quotes by the late artist, Fred Babb, is "Go to your studio and make stuff." Content creation. It's my latest obsession.
When teaching theatre history, I have my students examine various artistic movements in the social, cultural and historical context of the times. I then ask them to come up with a name for the present period based on the events and issues of the day. The next step in the process is for them to create a dramatic collage that expresses the current time through poetry, music, projections, movement and dialogue. The results are often startling and always enlightening.
Were students to name the period in which they live today, it might be called the "Age of Anxiety." There is an overwhelming sense of fear related to multiple threats, real and imagined facing teenagers today. The mental health and well being among high school students is drastically impacted by the seemingly endless news of school shootings and other troubling issues. The level of angst among teenagers cannot be ignored. As a theatre educator, I constantly ask myself how I can ease my students' stress despite the bombardment of bad news. It is then, I remember Fred Babb's quote. "Go to your studio and make stuff."
The counterpoint to the "Age of Anxiety" might be called the "Age of Artistic Activism." Giving students a creative outlet to wrestle with their fears moves them from feeling powerless to being empowered. Giving students a voice breaks through the silence and allows them to speak truth to power. Since Parkland, teenagers have proven that their voices are vital and that their activism can impact change. The beauty of educational theatre is that it provides both a window and a mirror for students and audiences. Theatre as a form of activism can be an effective way to encourage conversation, ignite debate, and present alternative views.
Historically, theatre has played a critical role in social commentary and political activism. Standing on the shoulders of playwrights and theatre practitioners like Brecht, Vaclav Havel, Athol Fugard, and Anna Deavere Smith, theatre students can be motivated to create content that will have a lasting impact and affect positive change.
So, teachers, tell your students, "Go to your studio and make stuff."
It will ease their anxiety...and yours.
