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NAGORNO-KARABAKH: USING THEATRE TO CONFRONT STEREOTYPICAL PERCEPTIONS OF HISTORY - OPED
Eurasia Review
Dec 4 2013
By TransConflict
December 4, 2013
Using the theatre and theatrical techniques as a mean for creating
a safe space for young participants from societies involved in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict helped breakdown existing stereotypical
perceptions of history.
By Peace Dialogue
Collective memory gives people a sense of belonging. History helps to
explain the world. A shared view of history can motivate people to
take action that changes the future. These were the main massages
that the organizers intended to pass to the participants of the
History-Theatre workshop, held in Tbilisi from 17-24 of November, 2013.
The workshop was the last joint activity in the framework of Peace
Dialogue's three-year project, Let's See... Let's Choose... Let's
Change.
This year the project's activities were mainly focused at developing
a critical historical consciousness and understanding among the youth
involved in the project that people themselves are actors in history
and play the most active role in constructing collective historical
memories.
The History-Theatre methodology that was used during the workshop was
developed by the implementing team, based upon Augusto Boal's Theatre
of the Oppressed, Paulo Freire's pedagogical concepts and the team's
experience working with the historical insights of representatives
of conflict-affected societies.
Using the theatre and theatrical techniques as a mean for creating
a safe space for young participants from societies involved in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the trainer, Harald Hahn, and the project's
German coordinator, Marina Grasse, tried to help the participants to
see and recognize their own role in the history creation processes.
Indeed addition, the organizers intended to break the existing
stereotypical perceptions of history consisting solely of narratives
of heroism and stories of a nations' victimhood.
"History is subjective. It's open to different interpretations. Each
country and every generation has to deal with their own past, but this
should not be done by promoting myths or by using politically motivated
interpretations of history to attack opponents," stated Marina Grasse
during one of the discussions held in framework of the workshop.
"I never thought about the power of the history", says one of the
participants, Kara. "I realized now that having a concrete aim or
a political agenda, through the compilation and presenting the same
facts in specific order, one can make societies greatest friends or
the worst enemies ever."
Peace Dialogue are a member of the Global Coalition for
Conflict Transformation from Armenia. Further information
about this project is available by clicking here:
http://www.peacedialogue.am/english/activity_more.php?SID=2&AID=601&TopicId=7&Language =Eng
http://www.eurasiareview.com/04122013-nagorno-karabakh-using-theatre-confront-stereotypical-perceptions-history-oped/
Eurasia Review
Dec 4 2013
By TransConflict
December 4, 2013
Using the theatre and theatrical techniques as a mean for creating
a safe space for young participants from societies involved in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict helped breakdown existing stereotypical
perceptions of history.
By Peace Dialogue
Collective memory gives people a sense of belonging. History helps to
explain the world. A shared view of history can motivate people to
take action that changes the future. These were the main massages
that the organizers intended to pass to the participants of the
History-Theatre workshop, held in Tbilisi from 17-24 of November, 2013.
The workshop was the last joint activity in the framework of Peace
Dialogue's three-year project, Let's See... Let's Choose... Let's
Change.
This year the project's activities were mainly focused at developing
a critical historical consciousness and understanding among the youth
involved in the project that people themselves are actors in history
and play the most active role in constructing collective historical
memories.
The History-Theatre methodology that was used during the workshop was
developed by the implementing team, based upon Augusto Boal's Theatre
of the Oppressed, Paulo Freire's pedagogical concepts and the team's
experience working with the historical insights of representatives
of conflict-affected societies.
Using the theatre and theatrical techniques as a mean for creating
a safe space for young participants from societies involved in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the trainer, Harald Hahn, and the project's
German coordinator, Marina Grasse, tried to help the participants to
see and recognize their own role in the history creation processes.
Indeed addition, the organizers intended to break the existing
stereotypical perceptions of history consisting solely of narratives
of heroism and stories of a nations' victimhood.
"History is subjective. It's open to different interpretations. Each
country and every generation has to deal with their own past, but this
should not be done by promoting myths or by using politically motivated
interpretations of history to attack opponents," stated Marina Grasse
during one of the discussions held in framework of the workshop.
"I never thought about the power of the history", says one of the
participants, Kara. "I realized now that having a concrete aim or
a political agenda, through the compilation and presenting the same
facts in specific order, one can make societies greatest friends or
the worst enemies ever."
Peace Dialogue are a member of the Global Coalition for
Conflict Transformation from Armenia. Further information
about this project is available by clicking here:
http://www.peacedialogue.am/english/activity_more.php?SID=2&AID=601&TopicId=7&Language =Eng
http://www.eurasiareview.com/04122013-nagorno-karabakh-using-theatre-confront-stereotypical-perceptions-history-oped/