Collective Storytelling. Week 7.

This week George Emilio Sanchez came back to our workshop with more exercises from the Theater of the Oppressed. We worked collectively around images of power. How can we engage in redefining power? First of all, What’s power? How do we perceive a structure of power? The first exercise is a simple one where a volunteer from the group is set to arrange a structure with 3 chairs, a coffee cup and a table, giving a single chair the position to be the most powerful element within the installation. The group will then vote based on the arrangement. We continuing this work until we reach majority of votes for a specific installation.

A second exercise is a variant from the previous one but adding a person. Who is the most powerful one within the structure? Participants will create a collective image of power. Since these exercises are non verbal, each of us goes into an individual process of thoughts and actions that make us aware of our collective experience and our deep conceptions of power.

Back in Studio B, we focused on team work. Developing the stories, gathering images and sounds. Our main aim is to think about the form of the story? What are those crucial elements that make our story unique? How can they be arranged to transmit the story?

In this past week we saw lots of emails correspondence, new initiatives in the form of a video and movie gifs. Both works are fine examples of documenting from inside the experience.

Next week is our last session. We are getting ready for final presentation.

Images by Judy Chu

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