Identity and Belonging
"Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going?" At some point in our life, and perhaps more than once, each of us will ask, or has asked, these questions. We seek to validate our self as unique, different from those who surround us, and at the same time we want to be accepted, and to feel that we belong to the group. Often, our ability to function in a civil society is determined by how we answer such questions, the value we therefore place on being unique balanced against a desire to be like those around us, and our sense of place in the world. In this section, we will research answers from sources as varied as world religions, science, literature, music and pop culture, as well as from our families and ourselves, using interviews and biography. We will reflect and identify the many ways in which the desire to "fit in" or to "stand out" affects our lives.
The culminating project will be a short performance piece, crafted from the material selected by class members. The performance may take place at a local high school or in some other small venue with a selected audience. Each student will participate, both through the selection process (based on inquiry and discussion during class) and during the performance itself. The framework, or structure, of the piece will be discovered through the techniques of creative drama, or "devised theatre."
Creative drama principles can be used to address any discipline and encourage meaningful associations, improve understanding and retention, promote curiosity, analytical thinking and questioning, and self-confidence for participants. The activities associated with creative drama and devised theatre require collaboration and exploration, and allow the communication of an idea in an interesting and compelling way. As noted by Alison Oddey in her book Devising Theatre, "Devising is about thinking, conceiving, and forming ideas, being imaginative and spontaneous. The process of devising is about the fragmentary experience of understanding ourselves, our culture, and the world we inhabit." This course makes references to all chapters in PACS 1, especially Chapter 1: The Self and Self-Reflection and Chapter 2: Family and Interpersonal Relationships.
