Grazz conclusions - Conclusiones Grazz (falta traducir a spanish)

WOMEN’S POWER – Open Space, 28.10.2009, 14.00 – 16.00, JUFA World Forum Theatre Festival 2009, Austria

The following statements do not represent necessarily the opinion of all participants.

QUESTION(S) What makes or why/how are women jokers different from men?
DISCUSSION LOG: Is it a question of gender/personality/class/culture how a joker structures a performance, deepens the process, questions, uses power, … J
okering as a woman sometimes needs “doppelte Kraft” (double efforts) to be seen/accepted
Can a men-joker be a feminist?
Can a woman-joker reinforce/reproduce dominant structure?

QUESTION(S)
1.Are there structures in the Theatre of the Oppressed that hinder (stop) women to be jokers?
2.How does the Theatre of the Oppressed reproduce dominant structures (not just patriarchy)?
NOTES:
1. Typical patriarchal structures Economics “shyness” Taking space Being afraid of disharmony (critics) hierarchy through knowledge Possible solutions: not only one person, who jokers Reflecting your own background If you need to reproduce dominant structure for getting attention  tell/show it to the others
2. Joker as expert Silencing voices Contradictions between change you want to see and what you do Not showing emotions or connections Space of exchange and reflection to support each other, disagree, examine our internalized “prejudices” Learn to debate/argue Having to be male/or use strategies … to be heard Knowledge exchange by practice

DISCUSSION LOG: We talked about
1.dominant structures Patriarchy Xenopobia Racism Etc.: i.e. capitalism  MANY 2.How we reproduce inside the Theatre of the Oppressed
Joker-behaviour: Silencing Expert: to have power over knowledge
Abuses between change you say you want … and the way you work
No reflection on location/privil
How we make with power Not showing emotions Male Strategies to get attention Shyness – nit interested in competition Not being willing to take the same risk 3.Strategies … to make better reflecting on background (culture, class, etc.) making visible the structures and strategies used … publicy … that are power based – dominant structure not only one person joking – sharing in group make space to exchange about feedback, examine internalized prejudices sharing practice and theory

QUESTION(S) Can the Theatre of the Oppressed define itself as a feminist movement? What kind of a network [do we want]? What is the ideology?
DISCUSSION LOG: feminist theatre of the oppressed network, “feminist” defines the space, the network Not only women coming together because they are women
Dialogue of this network and the Theatre of the Oppressed in general to make the movement a feminist movement (transform men as well)
A place to share experiences of feminist Theatre of the Oppressed-practitioners, learn from each other, try new ways/techniques, to support each other
Form a blog/e-group on the internet – to be in contact, informed of what others are doing, maybe begin the network

QUESTION(S) Difference between the Esthetical “language” of women  e. “l.” of men?  Embodyment of problems/conflicts? Feminist/gender technics for workshops DISCUSSION LOG: Is it more important to discuss by words or with theatralic methods? (on stage – during performace) Give the space for discussions during or after a performance? Should we use more body language?

QUESTION(S) Ideas/experience: how to start/maintain a women’s Theatre of the Oppressed group? How to stimulate and promote Theatre of the Oppressed events, projects etc. focussed in the women issues? Finding ways of bringing Theatre of the Oppressed to women who are not thinking of themselves as “feminist”. Theatre of the Oppressed as a tool for “simple” women
DISCUSSION LOG: How to stimulate a group: pool of women discussing/sharing how to do (global) Event attracts/makes groups (and the other way around) Why you want to make this group? Necessity Desire Do it (whichever small it is)  the way will come Motivation: activism (then?) (vs.?) professionalism Attraction: learn to make theatre, aesthetical  political Space: take obstacles into a path (childcare, food, livingspaces, etc.)

QUESTION(S) Strategies and questions the joker can use to make gender visible and to make space possible to many.