Plastow, JE (2014) Domestication or transformation ? The Ideology of Theatre for Development in Africa. Applied Theatre Research, 2 (2). 107 - 118 (12). ISSN 2049-3010
Abstract
This article explores the postcolonial history of Theatre for Development in Africa. It argues that a form that had been gradually developing as a socialist-inspired means of enabling people in Africa to discuss politics and social issues they saw as important was transformed from the mid-1980s into a largely instrumentalist tool for conveying information and messages determined by Western donor and African governments and international non-governmental organizations. The article discusses who currently controls the majority of cultural output related to Theatre for Development and some of the methodologies used. It deplores the widespread lack of skilled facilitators, the lack of evaluation of process, practice or impact, and the common practice of using Theatre for Development to tell people what outside agencies determine is good for them rather than engaging in dialogue or promoting the use of the arts to enable ordinary people to ‘speak to power’.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2014, Intellect. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Applied Theatre Research. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Africa; Theatre for Development; empowerment; ideology; socialism |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures (Leeds) > School of English (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 16 Oct 2015 12:21 |
Last Modified: | 16 Jan 2018 13:05 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1386/atr.2.2.107_1 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Intellect |
Identification Number: | 10.1386/atr.2.2.107_1 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:85712 |