Re: RAT Politics, Theatre Audiences, and the Medici

[Ruthanne Price <oku_haiku@yahoo.com>]

--- Cat Hebert <virtualdrama@juno.com> wrote:

> The question, though, is how you go about inciting
> *political* change in
> a theater audience member. That usually implies
> helping people to change
> their point of view on a particular issue -- largely
> through making such
> a compelling argument within the piece that the
> individual goes home and
> re-thinks their point of view.
> 
> To be able to effect "change" of this sort, a
> theater piece must present
> the point of view currently held by the audience
> member and then show
> cogent reasons for switching point of view --
> usually by showing how the
> effects of the new point of view will make changes
> for the "better".
> 
> Theater which shows only one side of an issue
> (doesn't represent the
> audience member's current point of view) can't
> effect *change*, it can
> only reinforce the belief system of those already
> committed to a
> particular point of view (a valuable function). 



why is it necessary to show someone their own
viewpoint before trying to change their mind?  if one
presents one's point, one's opinion, one's ideal with
passion capable of touching people, why should it be
necessary to approach them first on their own ground? 
in fact, if what you are trying to do is lead them
into your territory in a way that provokes thought and
change, should you not just walk to the edge of where
you are which is closest to the edge of where they are
and then try to engage them across those edges?

my father is a strong rational man who believes that
homosexuality is wrong - or at least a bad choice.  he
is blessed with this lesbian daughter who is
constantly trying to normalize the idea to him.  i
designed sound for a recent dallas production of diana
son's _stop kiss_, which he came to see, without my
mother, on closing night.  he was very nearly the only
straight man there.  he watched the show, which made
no concessions to his idea that homosexuality is wrong
or a bad choice, and came away thinking about it in
just this manner that leads to changing minds.  he may
not have changed his mind that night, and he may not
change it tomorrow.  but the seed is planted.  and it
was planted without any sort of nod to how he might
feel about this given issue now.

i do not think that it is necessary to stand on both
sides of anything to change minds.  in fact, i think
that the most important thing is to stand.  (the
popularity of many of evangelical religions defies the
idea that one must present both sides of something. 
bringing an idea to a person where they are is not the
same thing.)

peace, 
ruthanne

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