The spectrum is a non-confrontational
platform to air extremely sensitive issues that may otherwise be avoided. Some examples are political issues, identity, sexuality, and spirituality are
constantly shifting and so are our community alliances. It is important to explain to the participants that the
exercise is, first and foremost, about “the subjectivity and fluidity of
notions of identity and community.” They must understand that the exercise is
about self-identification and self-perception and not about imposed identity.
The Zapatista-inspired town meeting
Inspired by some of the Zapatista assemblies, we have found
this discussion format to be very useful to creatively address the aesthetic,
political, and social questions and/ or tensions that arise during the workshop
process. Certain tensions are inherent to the human condition: some people have
large personalities and more strident voices.
Discussing the implications of video and photographic
documentation
We normally introduce this discussion on day four, at the
beginning of the second session; the discussion should focus on the importance
of and risks accompanying photographic and video documentation. An inquisitive
question would be: What are we going to do with this documentation – merely
revise it as a visual diary.
“Pulling performances out of a hat”
This is a good exercise when participants are getting
physically tired and the instructor begins to sense that it is time to let the
bodies of participants take a break.
When everyone has
completed their scripts, participants sit in a circle and place their written
instructions in a hat. One at a time, each participant chooses a piece of paper
out of the hat and reads it to him/ herself.
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