Right now I am reading “How Theatre Educates: Convergences and Counterparts” by Gallagher, K. & Booth, D. and it has inspired some thought. The tome has been compiled by a number of respectable theatre artists, educators, scholars, activists and advocates. The main argument the book makes is:
“Keeping ‘education,’ with its curriculum components of dramatic literature and theatre studies in formal school settings, separate from ‘theatre’ occurring outside the frame of traditional contexts for learning diminishes both enterprises” (preface).
This is a thought provoking statement and I believe it to be true, not just for theatre studies but for all of the art forms. It only makes sense that if we are to study something in school from a book, we should also have experience with it in the real world. So instead of looking at slide shows of different genres of art, we should actually take our classes out to the art galleries to see art up close and personal.
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When studying the various art practices in a classroom setting, we risk turning them abstract things that are untouchable and easily detached from the students real experience with art. Art, music, dance and drama become these alien worlds that we only know of from books. There needs to be a real world connection, we need to see, live and experience these worlds in real life. Instead of only reading about dance, music and drama and practicing it in the confined and impersonal and disconnected space of a classroom, we should take our classes out to see the performances first hand. Then they can truly experience and learn about these art forms. Only then will these art forms become real in the students minds.
Benjamin Ironstand 