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HowlRound: I am thinking about what it means when we say we are writing about climate change.
I am thinking about the elements.
I am thinking a lot about water.
2 comments:
Katie Pyne
said...
As artists, we have a obligation to observe the world around us. That's the basis of what we do; we observe and incorporate those observations into the art we create. Climate change is no different. Some people believe that there's a disconnect between people and their impact on the environment. Too often, we get caught up in the personals of it all; how much we recycle or how short our showers are. In a way, this is a really selfish way to look at it. Instead, we should be thinking about it in a global context. Hopefully talking about climate change within the background of a play will inspire people to make changes. When you can put a face to the people who are being affected the most by climate change, it becomes more of a pressing issue. This is not say that people are completely ignorant of climate change, but it definitely not the first thing that comes to people's minds when it comes to contemporary theater.
Theatre, like other forms of art, adapts to cultural changes with time, possibly challenging ideas or simply putting them on display. Theatre is somewhat unique in its ability to so quickly adapt to very big issues, creating entire works about contemporary topics. If creating theatre is to essentially study humanity, then the importance of this trait is clear. Climate change is an extreme threat to humanity and it is essentially the most important question we must find an answer (or answers) to because if we don’t, nothing else will matter. It is a very tricky question not just from a scientific standpoint but from an intersectional one as well. As the effects of climate change become more evident, other socioeconomic issues will become more urgent. But to study, react, and treat those issues alone is analogous to treating the symptoms rather than the illness. Conversation is always the first step, and as time progresses and issues become more pressing, having a productive conversation will be crucial to making any progress in solving some of humanities biggest problems. Hopefully theatremakers everywhere can pose questions, play out scenarios, and prompt society to start this conversation in earnest.
2 comments:
As artists, we have a obligation to observe the world around us. That's the basis of what we do; we observe and incorporate those observations into the art we create. Climate change is no different. Some people believe that there's a disconnect between people and their impact on the environment. Too often, we get caught up in the personals of it all; how much we recycle or how short our showers are. In a way, this is a really selfish way to look at it. Instead, we should be thinking about it in a global context. Hopefully talking about climate change within the background of a play will inspire people to make changes. When you can put a face to the people who are being affected the most by climate change, it becomes more of a pressing issue. This is not say that people are completely ignorant of climate change, but it definitely not the first thing that comes to people's minds when it comes to contemporary theater.
Theatre, like other forms of art, adapts to cultural changes with time, possibly challenging ideas or simply putting them on display. Theatre is somewhat unique in its ability to so quickly adapt to very big issues, creating entire works about contemporary topics. If creating theatre is to essentially study humanity, then the importance of this trait is clear. Climate change is an extreme threat to humanity and it is essentially the most important question we must find an answer (or answers) to because if we don’t, nothing else will matter. It is a very tricky question not just from a scientific standpoint but from an intersectional one as well. As the effects of climate change become more evident, other socioeconomic issues will become more urgent. But to study, react, and treat those issues alone is analogous to treating the symptoms rather than the illness. Conversation is always the first step, and as time progresses and issues become more pressing, having a productive conversation will be crucial to making any progress in solving some of humanities biggest problems. Hopefully theatremakers everywhere can pose questions, play out scenarios, and prompt society to start this conversation in earnest.
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