Workshop (60 minutes) #328
Tracks
Room A332
| Thursday, June 25, 2020 |
| 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
| A332 |
Presentation
Theater and Martials Arts: A Weapon for Liberation | Cacnio
Presenter(s)
Ginger Cacnio
Hana Early Childhood Center
#328 Cacnio: Theater and Martials Arts: A Weapon for Liberation
Abstract
Theater of the Oppressed is a form of participatory theater promoting a community-based education and a tool for transformation. Created by Augusto Boal, a Brazilian artist, activists and visionary, Theater of the Oppressed provides a way for people to analyze their realities, struggles, history and power dynamics in the society. In TO, the audience becomes a spect-actor and no longer just a spectator. Through TO we recognize that we can take action in solving problems. It allows us to embody both problem and solution. It allows us to question with empathy.
Although theater is not therapy, as Boal said, it can be therapeutic. Through theater we are able to observe ourselves. Through Theater of the Oppressed we are able to amend ourselves, disrupt and question power dynamics. Theater of the Oppressed has several techniques. For this workshop we will explore techniques of Image theater. Through studying images and spaces our bodies will explore and have a dialogue about power dynamics in our society. This problem posing activity is not meant to solve the social injustice. Through Image Theater we will examine our contradictions and have a discourse on how society reacts to different social identities therefore exploring power structures in the society.
To get our bodies ready to fight social injustices, we start the workshop with some Filipino martial Arts. The indomitable warrior spirit of the Filipino persevered despite being under oppressive eras, foreign and domestic ruling powers, that resulted in various uprisings and revolutions. Throughout this history, this fighting spirit transformed its warrior arts to what is now known as Filipino Martial Arts (FMA), a complete system of self-defense known by many names (Kali, Eskrima, Arnis to name a few). FMA is a bladed art in a fully-mixed martial practice that enables you to turn your whole body and anything around into a weapon. Practitioners develop awareness in distance and timing, advancing reflexes, and most importantly gaining or regaining that fighting instinct of fluidity and motion.
Although theater is not therapy, as Boal said, it can be therapeutic. Through theater we are able to observe ourselves. Through Theater of the Oppressed we are able to amend ourselves, disrupt and question power dynamics. Theater of the Oppressed has several techniques. For this workshop we will explore techniques of Image theater. Through studying images and spaces our bodies will explore and have a dialogue about power dynamics in our society. This problem posing activity is not meant to solve the social injustice. Through Image Theater we will examine our contradictions and have a discourse on how society reacts to different social identities therefore exploring power structures in the society.
To get our bodies ready to fight social injustices, we start the workshop with some Filipino martial Arts. The indomitable warrior spirit of the Filipino persevered despite being under oppressive eras, foreign and domestic ruling powers, that resulted in various uprisings and revolutions. Throughout this history, this fighting spirit transformed its warrior arts to what is now known as Filipino Martial Arts (FMA), a complete system of self-defense known by many names (Kali, Eskrima, Arnis to name a few). FMA is a bladed art in a fully-mixed martial practice that enables you to turn your whole body and anything around into a weapon. Practitioners develop awareness in distance and timing, advancing reflexes, and most importantly gaining or regaining that fighting instinct of fluidity and motion.
