Political Term: November 2014

It makes me feel utterly I'll to think that these poor little girls have to go through this day in, day out. FGM has been happening in these country's, and more, for generations. It is estimated that around 125 million young females have had to suffer this ridiculous procedure.

The procedures differ according to the ethnic group. They include removal of the clitoral hood and clitoris, and in the most severe form (known asinfibulation) removal of the inner andouter labia and closure of the vulva; in this last procedure, a small hole is left for the passage of urine and menstrual blood, and the vagina is opened for intercourse and childbirth. Health effects depend on the procedure, but can include recurrent infections, chronic pain, cysts, an inability to get pregnant, complications during childbirth and fatal bleeding. There are no known health benefits.
The practice is rooted in gender inequality, attempts to control women's sexuality, and ideas about purity, modesty and aesthetics. It is initiated and usually carried out by women, who see it as a source of honour, and who fear that failing to have their daughters and granddaughters cut will expose the girls to social exclusion. Over 125 million women and girls have experienced FGM in the 29 countries in which it is concentrated.Over eight million have been infibulated, a practice found largely in Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan.
One of my aims in life is to visit these country's and not only give the people who are carrying out this disgrace a peice of my mind, but also setting up and funding for safe houses for women and children who have had it done and still suffer, mothers who don't want their children to have to go through what they did, and also trying to prevent it as much as I can! I saw this in 2012, when it was first aired on Channel 4, it is very interesting.
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-day-i-will-never-forget

First Lesson

'Art is not a mirror with which to reflect reality but a hammer with which to shape it.' - Bertolt Brecht

Learning about Brecht and his influence on modern day theatre really helped me understand why we feel how we feel when we go to see a peice of theatre. Brecht wanted the audience not to only identify emotionally to what he/she was seeing but to relate to some extent and provoke a somewhat rational self-reflection and a critical veiw to what they were seeing. He did this by writing/directing 'political theatre'. This is political issues shaped and moulded into a peice. These were real issues, connecting with Stanislavsky's 'realism technique' in a sense. By showing real people not only a show, but within that show, political views/problems/situations that were happening. Brecht wanted to turn 'traditional theatre' on it's head a little bit. He didn't want to put on a 'nice' show to entertain people, although he obviously wanted to entertain to some degree, he wanted to show and inform people through theatre. He would use sound/song to interrupt the scene, he would also use harsh lighting to distract the audience in a sense and make them think about what they were watching. Brecht was a medical audily in WW1, when he was a young boy of 16. He must have seen people in so much pain and most likely many deaths. This must have given him a very strong political veiw on war and society at the time. Especially at such a young age, but an age where you are learning about society and understanding and deciding what you think is right and wrong. Being a medical helper, he obviously wanted to help people, and maybe writing plays that explored political themes, did that for him? I also wouldn't think after seeing such horrific sights in the war, he would be scared of much. So portraying his thoughts and opinions through theatre, I can't imagine he was afraid of writing anything that could maybe cause a disagreement. After discussing Brechts life and contribution to theatre, it led us in the way of politics, as a class talking about what politics is to us individually. I personally am really involved and interested in news/politics etc. I have very strong views and opinions on things that I agree and disagree with in our society, and I'm sure that I am not the only one so grateful that Brecht took it apon himself to teach the audience and sub consciously make them think about what is happening in our world and society. It has definitely had a huge influence on modern day theatre, and the plays that I find the most interesting challenge political views and make you walk out thinking about it and maybe even with a different (more open) veiw.