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Video on Artaud and his Background
This lesson we sat down and watched some videos on Artaud and his teaching methods.
Please forgive me for not taking top quality pictures. I sincerely apologise.
I also researched some more videos that were helpful for me to understand Artaudian theatre.
I also took some notes on the videos:
Artaud’s Conventions:
Juxtaposed paradox
Using traditional conventions of theatre to place his conventions in
Chorus work
Raw emotions
Removing the mask
Theatre of cruelty
Societies conventions
Elements of the grotesque
Surrealism: not about the subject but the concepts
Video 1: Traces
Uncomfortable music
His work has influence generations of practitioners but was failed to be regarded during his time.
Quote for the grotesque pic: sublime, abstract, slapped on a face, weird form of torture: suffering. Control over someone
Artaud’s theatre can evoke senses of sadism
Rawness of exploring something
What would society actually look like if all these conventions were real?
It would not function
He was the practitioner that was actually never able to practise his work
Japan: Artaud’s teachings are valid even today
Industrialist capitalist culture: Australia, Europe
Challenged the boundaries of social acceptability
Makes audience feel very uncomfortable
The seashell and the clergyman
Guy moving carrying his legs – weight on his shoulders
Alfred Jarry – farting gross inappropriate character
Discrimination against homosexuality
Surrealism: dreamlike, unrealistic, nightmarish. Distorted versions of reality. Starts with something small and builds up and gets more intense. Haunting and evocations of pain and suffering. Overwhelming feeling
Ritual: Repetition in movements and sounds drumming and marching
Video 2: Surrealism and Rituals
Belief in the power of theatre as an healing act
Not linear
Movement and different levels, sound (screaming) – crucifix scene: possessed woman
Using drawings to assassinate magic. Associated with the idea of magic that he can create himself.
Grotesque music: gross and unpleasant sounds.
How can we connect what we did in class with the teachings of Artaud
Based on movement
Using the emotions in your movement
Limited dialogue
Relate to emotions from personal experiences
How can I use this in my performance?
Acapella sounds
Organic movements
Chorus and synchronised movement
Limited dialogue
Use organic substances to create grotesqueness
Use of space
Choreographed movements.
The video above shows Artaud's background and especially includes information on the Theatre of Cruelty. The theatre of Cruelty is very uncomfortable to watch and also incorporates sound effects that brings out emotions in the audience that are not normally accessible.
The video above also shows some examples of what Artaudian theatre involves and that video is one of the videos that we watched in class.
Oop there goes the bell!
Until next time,
S