Looking Denial Right In The Eyes: The Presence of the Five Stages of Grief in Dramatic Performance
Faculty Mentor
Jonathon Taylor
Mentor Home Department
Theater and Dance
Short Abstract
This creative thesis explores how grief is interwoven within dramatic structure. The original play written for the thesis, entitled “Hit.”, delves into the life of Aaron as he deludes himself into believing his friends are still alive and with him. He cannot cope with the fact that their death is his fault, and he uses drugs as a crutch to hide from this. Through conversations with friends Aaron reveals the different reasons he mourns the loss of them. As the play progresses, his ability to stay in denial wanes until the truth finally spills out. The horror of this reality is too much for Aaron, causing him to slip back into his state of denial at which point the play restarts.. Grief does not get resolved in this play, but does it need to be? The academic paper accompanying the play discusses different approaches to conveying grief in drama. The plays Appropriate by Brandon Jacob-Jenkins and Long Day’s Journey Into Night by Eugene O’Neill have distinct methods in displaying bereavement. People don’t just mourn the dead; they mourn the aspects of themselves that the dead take with them. This thesis seeks to analyze and quantify audiences' expectations of grief within performance. Do we seek acceptance and healing? Or do we find comfort in reliving our pain?
Category
Art and Humanities
Start Date
5-4-2024 10:20 AM
End Date
5-4-2024 11:20 AM
Location
D.P. Culp Center Room 210
Looking Denial Right In The Eyes: The Presence of the Five Stages of Grief in Dramatic Performance
D.P. Culp Center Room 210
This creative thesis explores how grief is interwoven within dramatic structure. The original play written for the thesis, entitled “Hit.”, delves into the life of Aaron as he deludes himself into believing his friends are still alive and with him. He cannot cope with the fact that their death is his fault, and he uses drugs as a crutch to hide from this. Through conversations with friends Aaron reveals the different reasons he mourns the loss of them. As the play progresses, his ability to stay in denial wanes until the truth finally spills out. The horror of this reality is too much for Aaron, causing him to slip back into his state of denial at which point the play restarts.. Grief does not get resolved in this play, but does it need to be? The academic paper accompanying the play discusses different approaches to conveying grief in drama. The plays Appropriate by Brandon Jacob-Jenkins and Long Day’s Journey Into Night by Eugene O’Neill have distinct methods in displaying bereavement. People don’t just mourn the dead; they mourn the aspects of themselves that the dead take with them. This thesis seeks to analyze and quantify audiences' expectations of grief within performance. Do we seek acceptance and healing? Or do we find comfort in reliving our pain?