Thatcher famously remarked, “There is no such thing as society”.
Welcome to an edition of #CdnCult Times that evolved into something entirely different than originally intended.
These pieces came together under the rough rubric of looking at canadian performance culture’s past (Michael Healey), present (Sarah Garton Stanley) and future (Howard Jang). Reading them consecutively, it’s hard not to be struck by a deeper connection these articles have:
Each author is addressing The Commons and the role performance has as a creating an activated public space. Stanley’s assertion we have entered a new age of ‘Citizen Story Theatre’ connects to Healey’s analysis of how our increased hostility occurred as our understanding of culture as a public good has waned, which is addressed in part by Jang’s proposal to use Cathedral Thinking to reach community-driven outcomes.
To me, this indicates whatever era is being considered, the role theatre plays creating a commons for society to participate in is a central concern.
