So - update on my drama. Things were going fairly well, I have a decent amount of props, except - I can't find anywhere for those covering the Hispanics/Latinos/Chicanos. I was pretty prepared for not finding anything for the Inuit and easily fixed that, but this is hard.
I'm officially changing my drama to Work In Progress status. Over the winter break I want to check a more diverse area for, well, expectedly more diverse items. I'm putting a lot of money into this endeavor with the only thing received being self-satisfaction, which is payment enough, and I want to get it (gosh darnit!). So I want to do this thing right.
I'll be ready to present Tuesday night what I have. What will really be tested is the foundation of my drama, and if my idea is as meaningful and applicable to the student of today as I believe it is, then it should be adaptable and maleable to survive and fit as many changes as necessary. However, many of these changes will be temporary once I'm able to fix them to my liking and have it closer to the way I originally intended. I definitely want to perform this during APAH Month, and I'm still totally in support of some kind of day of mass exhibition of our projects during April. Maybe we could do something like UCAB does in the Sunken Gardens, or use the Lab Theatre for small performances - *something* that could get this noticed. And if we had ticket sales for anything, the money should go to IPAX I think.
So where to go from here? Well, for one thing, I'm going to do a lot of research. Maybe I'll be able to get a ride to Newport News for some props, I heard there might be some places there, but I don't know. I probably should have been more vocal about any donations you guys held meaningful that I could work in, but it's too late for right now. Maybe for April.
As for now - just gotta keep telling myself "Sí me puedo!"
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Velvet Underground
Wow, it really has been a long time since I've posted.
To start off - whether or not Todd's post on Kimchee and Chitlins was considered offensive, I pretty much agree with him. We can't base all of our actions and loyalties on the color of our skins. However, Francis' use of the word "survivalist" made me think as well. I think in an unfamiliar situation people are naturally inclined to bond to someone who looks like them. It's an animalistic survival and comfort action. But, in the case of Kimchee and Chitlins, these people were in their home city and were already comfortable with other people. And there's no excuse to give up your own beliefs, yourself, because someone tells you so - especially if it's only based on the color of your skin. And for my survivalist argument, I don't mean to say that's acceptable long-term. As an anchor, it happens. But that doesn't give a crutch to not go out and meet the other people in that group soon after.
Now -- When The Purple Settles. The critics weren't wrong when they listed "disturbing" along with all the praise. It is, but it's also so captivating, I can't even fully express what I'm thinking about it right now, I'll have to make another post about it tomorrow. But it's like just a sudden barrage of emotion and action and truth and bias and just so much of everything that it leaves you stunned, but you feel like something has changed inside you. It's like getting hit with a huge wave at the beach, but you're still left standing afterwards. That kind of violent, passionate force that leaves you breathless when the wave recedes. I'm about halfway through the play right now and every time I have to put it down for whatever reason I feel an anxiety and loss that I'm missing it.
I'll admit, perhaps the play is not for everyone. I've talked to people who have read it before and were more thoroughly disturbed, who didn't understand it, and were just left disappointed in that way. But once you know the history and the emotion that motivates it all, it's incredible. The best way I can put it is this - the play is like blood. Some are made squeamish, others are fascinated, still others are indifferent. But there's no denying it has the essence of life in it.
To start off - whether or not Todd's post on Kimchee and Chitlins was considered offensive, I pretty much agree with him. We can't base all of our actions and loyalties on the color of our skins. However, Francis' use of the word "survivalist" made me think as well. I think in an unfamiliar situation people are naturally inclined to bond to someone who looks like them. It's an animalistic survival and comfort action. But, in the case of Kimchee and Chitlins, these people were in their home city and were already comfortable with other people. And there's no excuse to give up your own beliefs, yourself, because someone tells you so - especially if it's only based on the color of your skin. And for my survivalist argument, I don't mean to say that's acceptable long-term. As an anchor, it happens. But that doesn't give a crutch to not go out and meet the other people in that group soon after.
Now -- When The Purple Settles. The critics weren't wrong when they listed "disturbing" along with all the praise. It is, but it's also so captivating, I can't even fully express what I'm thinking about it right now, I'll have to make another post about it tomorrow. But it's like just a sudden barrage of emotion and action and truth and bias and just so much of everything that it leaves you stunned, but you feel like something has changed inside you. It's like getting hit with a huge wave at the beach, but you're still left standing afterwards. That kind of violent, passionate force that leaves you breathless when the wave recedes. I'm about halfway through the play right now and every time I have to put it down for whatever reason I feel an anxiety and loss that I'm missing it.
I'll admit, perhaps the play is not for everyone. I've talked to people who have read it before and were more thoroughly disturbed, who didn't understand it, and were just left disappointed in that way. But once you know the history and the emotion that motivates it all, it's incredible. The best way I can put it is this - the play is like blood. Some are made squeamish, others are fascinated, still others are indifferent. But there's no denying it has the essence of life in it.
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