Tuesday, December 07, 2021
Theatre of the Oppressed Pittsburgh to address homelessness with H.U.D. (Housing Under Distress)
Theater | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper: For centuries, art has been used to inspire change in the society in which it was built. From poetry to plays, artists often seek to critique or show error in the ways their society operates, highlighting the stories of those who have suffered the most under oppressive laws and policies. The tradition of using art in that manner continues to this day, even here in Pittsburgh.
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In my Anti-Racist Theatre and Equitable Practices course this semester, we had a guest speaker who asked the question, "do you realize just how segregated Pittsburgh actually is?' Most people who go outside the CMU safety towns of Shadyside, Oakland, and Squirrel Hill will recognize just how definite that sentiment actually lies. It's brilliant to use the modality of Theatre of the Oppressed to signify unhoused people's issues in Pittsburgh because Augusto Boal always talks about how the spectator can see the problem but they can't really act on it. If using Theatre of the Oppressed forces you to take a neutral stance on a matter and look at things objectively, how would you react to see the ridiculous amount of unhoused people in Squirrel Hill South. Honestly! You go one block past Forbes and Murray and you'll find the guy who always plays the trumpet on the corner, or find the guy who always sleeps in the Manor Theatre entrance outside the doors to stay out of the cold. It's not like it's so far outside of our home to see what's right in front of us.
The homelessness crisis in the United States is a huge emergency that needs to be addressed and assisted by our government, however it seems to be a topic that Americans want to avoid talking about at all costs. There are stigmas and stereotypes against homeless individuals, and many housed Amerians seem to think of them as dirty, lazy, addicts, or untouchable altogether. The fact is that people are people, regardless of their situation or struggles, and other human beings deserve dignity, empathy, and basic human rights at a bare minimum. There is so much we should be doing and so much of our own we should be sacrificing to help bring these members of our society back into a safe situation. Many privileged, adult Americans fail to realize who actually created the opioid crisis, which has contributed immeasurably to homelessness, and who has perpetuated the financial system of this country that has left people without a place to live. This article talks about the Theatre of the Oppressed, and while I am glad they are going to create a conversation about Pittsburgh homelessness, I wish they would actually do something measurable to help these people. I apologize for my criticism if they are, and the article failed to mention it. Theatre makers LOVE to talk about change, but on too many occasions we are privileged enough to do only that and not have a thought about it. I have seen so many performances exploit the systemic struggles of marginalized groups for the sake of their show, but then do absolutely nothing actionable to measurably support the cause they are exploiting for the sake of ‘art.’ I hope Theatre of the Oppressed Pittsburgh changes that narrative.
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