Tuesday 5th November 2013

What did we do?
In the first lesson of exploring "Political theatre" as an art form, we researched factors that contributed to our overall understanding of what we thought "politics" meant to society and individuals. My own conclusion was that "politics" refers to the "practise and theory of influencing other people on a civic or individual level."
As a class, we explored each others political opinions and beliefs through a discussion. We applied an exercise which challenged our opinions on topics concerning "Government Censorship","Self Defence" etc in the form of a "percentage scale". We would move from one side of the room to the other which replicated the extent to which we agreed or disagreed with the subject matter. From this exercise, we were all in a position where we could question each others judgements and ideas concerning certain issues on the topic of "politics", which contributed to our overall understanding of the form and its role in our daily lives.
Through our thorough learning and understanding of "politics" and its role in shaping our everyday lives and society, we were capable enough in collaborating exercises that followed the term "Making things strange!" 
My group and I decided to devise our piece of role play around a "motorbike" which fitted into our exercise and where we used our physicality to replicate parts of a motorbike, which we believed would fit the statement "Making things strange!" We were given four pointers to consider; "Object in normal state", "Object with attitude", "Object with Owner" and "Object with political meaning". We used our vocal progression to replicate the sound of a motorbike and our physicality to symbolise "aggression". Through this "aggression", we wanted to identify political themes concerning racism and homophobia. 

What Went Well?
In familiarising ourselves with the basics and foundations of "politics" and it's role in our daily lives, we were able to as individuals, come to an overall conclusion of what we as young adults in society viewed "politics" to be. The group discussion and percentage scale exercise was useful in adapting our overall views in a practical manner that sparked discussion and opinion.
In the exercise "Making things strange", we were able to successfully transfer our political ideologies from discussion to role play in an applied Brechtian manner. Already in our first practical lesson on Bertolt Brecht, were we able to adapt our learning style to his techniques which further increased my understanding of "political theatre" and "underlying messages" which Brecht most commonly associated in his works. 
Overall, this devising exercise made me want to explore Brecht's work further and apply them to current political headlines in the media industry today.

Even Better If?
I believe that if we devised another exercise that challenged our opinion on "politics" and "Brecht theatre", I would have had an even greater understanding of the practitioner. In the first lesson, I felt that my understanding of "Brecht" and his techniques of "Making things strange" was quite limited compared to what it could have been if we applied more practical understandings of him in place. 
However, I understand that in the time we had, we would not have been able to devise another practical exercise of Brecht and therefore believe that with practise and personal study/ research of Bertolt Brecht, I would have increased my overall interest and understanding of how Brechtian theatre works as an art form.