Political and Theatrical Parallels
Faculty Mentor
Ante Ursic
Mentor Home Department
Theater and Dance
Short Abstract
The political sphere in the United States is known to have become deeply polarized within the last several election cycles. With voters focusing on aligning themselves towards their political party of choice and defending it against any and all criticism, it is easy to become lost in the battle of who can have the loudest opinion. From this heated exchange, the norm of elected officials has developed from one who works to communicate and pass legislation into an actor focused on using legislation to get reelected and dominate political discourse. However, while many are aware of the actions that elected officials take to have their voices heard, the full extent of the bridge between politics and theatre is not widely known. This thesis aims to highlight the parallels between the legislative branch and theatre. The case study method is used to identify these parallels. This thesis draws on real-life events within the Tennessee General Assembly, the South Carolina House of Representatives, and the United States Congress, as well as the Stanislavski method to compare the relationship between elected officials and actors. Archival research was also conducted about the history of the Tennessee State Capitol, and the methods of costume and set design. The results of this research found that there are several parallels between the use of costume and set design in the political and theatre realms. The research also discovered that there are parallels in actors and elected officials, although not to the extent originally believed.
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
Political and Theatrical Parallels
D.P. Culp Center Room 210
The political sphere in the United States is known to have become deeply polarized within the last several election cycles. With voters focusing on aligning themselves towards their political party of choice and defending it against any and all criticism, it is easy to become lost in the battle of who can have the loudest opinion. From this heated exchange, the norm of elected officials has developed from one who works to communicate and pass legislation into an actor focused on using legislation to get reelected and dominate political discourse. However, while many are aware of the actions that elected officials take to have their voices heard, the full extent of the bridge between politics and theatre is not widely known. This thesis aims to highlight the parallels between the legislative branch and theatre. The case study method is used to identify these parallels. This thesis draws on real-life events within the Tennessee General Assembly, the South Carolina House of Representatives, and the United States Congress, as well as the Stanislavski method to compare the relationship between elected officials and actors. Archival research was also conducted about the history of the Tennessee State Capitol, and the methods of costume and set design. The results of this research found that there are several parallels between the use of costume and set design in the political and theatre realms. The research also discovered that there are parallels in actors and elected officials, although not to the extent originally believed.