Why and how can improvisationaltheater impact conflict environments and peacebuilding? A complementary approach

Abstract

This study examines some of the sociological, psychological, intellectual,aesthetic and practical reasons why art and creative processes are not onlyuseful, but fundamental to human learning, meaning making, and change,and therefore to social regeneration. Literature from psychology,anthropology, mythology and peacebuilding is explored, concerning the roleof art in human conduct and communication, suggesting a complementaryrole for art, sometimes essential, to go along with cognitive modalities forproblem solving. Through the synonymous languages of scholars fromdifferent fields, similar themes are reiterated which are valid across cultures,genders, age groups and epochs, elucidating the function of story, ritual, andcreative (i.e. new, symbolic, or improvised) acts in individual and communitydevelopment. These mechanisms demonstrate the human needs andpurposes for art.Improvisational theater performance is examined, as a representative artform, for its application in the field of Peace and Conflict, through threemethods: Playback Theater, Workable Peace, and Theater of the Oppressed.Foundations and practices in these models are reviewed as a prerequisite tocomprehending case studies taken from the field, using each of the forms.Considering Lederach's contrast of 'an art' and 'a learned skill', this studyreveals the necessity of learned skill in art and the complementarity of art tocognitive processes. Contemporary cases of improvisational theaterinterventions from multiple settings, are assessed to consider a range ofapplications where theater has been used in peacebuilding, to identify howimprovements have been achieved, what problems have occurred, and toevaluate to what extent specific criteria for change objectives are met or not.Key Words: Improvisational Theater, Playback Theater, Image Theater,Theater of the Oppressed, Workable Peace, Peacebuilding, Conflict, Story,Symbolic Act, John Paul Lederach, Gregory Bateson, James Hillman, JosephCampbell.