Date of Award

1996

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

Communication Studies

Keywords

Mass Communications.

Supervisor

Cuthbert, M.

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

This thesis examines theatre projects in terms of the emphasis given either to the performance presented to an audience (product) or the developmental stages that lead up to it (process). These categories are evaluated based on the philosophy of Paulo Freire, whose pedagogy promotes critical consciousness fostered in individuals as a means towards improving human life. This thesis argues that mainstream communication systems typically emphasise product over process, yet in so doing, lose important qualities of popular access, grassroots involvement and what Freire calls "dialogue"--the cooperative effort between persons, based in mutual respect and love, to understand the world. Examples of theatre projects illustrate how process-centred communication may have social, political and/or therapeutic ends. A case study of a theatre project (a collectively-written play called "Frustrated Artists", performed in March, 1995) based on process-centred ideals gives a subjective vision of this sort of project. The examination concludes that an emphasis on process, though not necessarily empowering in itself, may be useful in constructing communications systems which value human needs over money and form. Given this, the thesis characterises process-centred media as a potentially important alternative communication force within an environment which may unheedingly crunch certain human needs such as involvement and self-worth. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 34-06, page: 2109. Adviser: Marlene Cuthbert. Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1996.

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