On the Merits of Seeing, Studying, and Making Global Theatre

Thesis Statement: The purpose of this essay titled On the Merits of Seeing, Studying,
and Making Global Theatre it is to argue that seeing, studying, and making global
theatre can lead to a better, healthier globalized world through ones own cultural
understanding and that of others, open-mindedness and respect when being immersed
in the experience of another cultures art forms and practices, and looking beyond
stereotypes westerners have of other cultures.
Let me start by saying that I believe that global theatre performances are small
stepping stones toward a healthier globalized world. This is not in terms of finding one
universal culture, because I strongly believe that would be almost impossible in this day
and age. However, if we expose ourselves to more of other cultures perspectives and
practices, and work to eliminate stereotypes, then we start to become more open
minded and accepting of other cultures and each other. We, being the western culture,
need to be, and are reminded through global theatre that our way is not the only way to
do things. Being educated on other cultures take on the world is a way we can find
mutual respect and encourage acceptance. Every culture has different needs, different
tastes, different customs, but as long as you can look to other cultures with some
curiosity, you might discover something you never knew and be inspired to create
something new. Everyone being the same would create a standard that we all could
reach, but that would take the fun, and progress of life out of the picture.
Global Theatre can exposes an audience to a transcultural or multicultural piece
where they might find self betterment from the misrepresentation of cultures. Self
betterment through misrepresentation can come about from a number of ways including

plays written purposefully to put a mirror to the face of its modern audience. This would
be a pieces where cultures are misrepresented in order to remind the audience that a
certain stereotype, especially when over dramatized, is offensive. A vertical transcultural
piece showing how a culture viewed another cultural in the past that is different from
today can also teach an audience how misrepresentation negatively effects different
cultures and their own. Death and the Kings Horseman purposefully showed how
misrepresented colonized cultures became when western cultures focused on few
aspects of a culture instead of taking the time to understand and appreciate all of it.
Westerners today can learn from shows like this one, and any global theatre piece, that
misrepresentation does not support a healthier globalized world.
As western theatre practitioners, only through educating ourselves are we able to
educate our audience. When approaching a foreign or multicultural piece, one must
start by asking some hard questions: Will we need to make changes so an audience
different from the source culture can understand it? Or will we hold true to the source
culture? Who might be offended by our choices either way? By dealing with these
questions through a theatrical performance, we not only understand and can find a
newfound respect for another culture, but we can then look back at our own culture and
see how we are different. These differences can give us a new perspective on how we
live our lives and thus gain a greater understanding of where we fit in within the world.
By practicing or even seeing a foreign artform, one can feel more connected to the
world, because they are apart of a culture different from their own. This can have a
great effect, even if its just for a little while.

When seeing a foreign theatre artform, one should take a moment to appreciate
that there is something happening in front of you that you dont understand. What you
do understand is that there is some deeper connection and meaning behind the
performance. You maybe not fulling understand what it is or how it came to be, but you
can appreciate that the performers took the time to make happen. Just like in the
artform of Hun Lakhon Lek, the three puppeteers that are required to operate one
puppet must be completely in line with each other. Only by their focus and precision can
they bring life to the puppet they are holding. A foreign audience member might not be
able to understand the work that went into creating the puppets performance, but by
just looking at the puppeteers perform, anyone can see the beauty in the artform, if only
for the sake that it is an artform. If you refer to the short documentary Manipulating
Entities under the History section of Hun Lakhon Lek within this website, you will see a
girl getting the chance to understand and be immersed in Hun Lakhon Lek. She talks
about the importance of being exposed to an art form she is unfamiliar with and that
experiencing something like this is more than just learning the artform alone, but
incurring the values and passion of those delivering it.
The practice of Nang Talung brings people together through the artform in a
different way from Hun Lakhon Lek. Nang Talung is about community and everyone
experiencing a performance together. Instead of being able to appreciate a foreign
theatre artform through the performers dedication, being in a huge crowd of people all
seeing and enjoying Nang Talung, or any form, is a concept that can be translated
across any culture and break through any language barriers. Once these barrier are
broken, global appreciation can thrive.

Seeing, studying, and making global theatre can only contribute to a healthier
globalized world and encourage respect among cultures. The act of looking deeper
beyond the outside layers of another culture can make you feel more closely connected
to the world, while at the same time giving you insight into your own cultural
relationship. By doing this, one can become more open-minded and have a better
chance of being exposed to, and appreciating what other cultures have to offer.