"Visualize a heritage and a tradition of politically committed choreographers, that is, choreographers who take a moral stand in order to heighten awareness of injustice and encourage social change." (140)
"Artists were no longer called artists; they were named cultural worker" (144).
The combination of anthropology and art!
"And within the education system, from elementary to high schools, South African and South American arts and culture were taught to reflect the parts of the world in which Sweden was politically engaged, as well as to counter dangerous commercialism." (144)
I really like this idea and in reflecting on the United States involvement around the world, I feel like it's something we could really use. I didn't learn about Iraq or Afghanistan in school except where they were located geographically and what contact between our country and theirs led to conflict. I think learning about another country's culture and their arts is a great way to humanize them and lead people to better understanding which, in my opinion, is a better way to resolve conflict then through military force. The fact that Sweden started teaching these lessons in elementary school means that whole generations grew up with the idea that it is standard to learn about different cultures and more importantly cultures that are different from your own.
Culberg's Rapport (1976) - about the political conflict in Chile at the time
"The closing moment offers no tangible suggestions as to how to solve the political conflict"
"A delicate balance between accusation, without causing guilt, and empathy, without being patronizing" (148). - how to criticize passivity of audience while at the same time getting them to become engaged in the cause for human rights and equality
Culberg's Soweto - about apartheid in South Africa
"in the program he states that his work is an 'attempt to provide empathetic insight into the blacks' situation,' knowing it to be impossible to really know, belonging to a privileged group spared from living in horror." (149).
As an anthropology student I think empathy is so important because it garners understanding; however, I do think it gets dangerous taking on the role of telling someone else's plight. Good intentions don't always prevent negative consequences. Where's the line in socially engaged performance between creating/inspiring change without contributing to the problem by speaking for others. This was something I studied this summer in a different research project with Celeste Miller, Halley Freger, Ebony Chukwuu, and Sophiyaa Nayar. (see mapsummer2015.blogspot.com)
I think the inclusion of the Mother Earth character which "convinces [women and men with different histories, yet all experiencing discrimination and oppression] not be victims, to acknowledge their roots and be proud and realize that they themselves can make a difference" (150) is key in giving agency to those they're trying to help.
Take away phrase: Firm individualism within a strong collective
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