Empathy In Tom Wright's Black Diggers

Through the use of poetic devices, the author has successfully encouraged the audience to explore their thoughts on Australian identity and to reflect on our nation’s history.

The article is about black creative production (theater) since the play is directed by African American playwright Richard Wesley. In addition, the predominantly black casts are spectacular and deliver a strong performance. The ability to be multi-skilled in your craft displays creativity and versatility where the actors can utilize their many talents.

The 7 stages of grieving is an Indigenous Australian collective play co-written by Wesley Enoch and performed by Deborah Mailman. The play has the opportunity to inform, celebrate and transform Aboriginal themes and issues to aboriginal and non-aboriginal audiences a-like. It touches on themes and issues from the past, present and future in a comedic way. I have decided to use the scene “Nana’s story” as inspiration for my visual representation. In this scene, the theme of loss of culture is explored in regards to the policy of assimilation and the stolen generation.

August Wilson’s plays relate directly to his African heritage, and were and are a part of his success. His expression of the struggles of the blacks

Written during one of the most defining moments in Indigenous Australian history, Enoch and Deborah Mailman’s ‘the 7 stages of grieving’ follows a young Aboriginal woman as she retells some of the hardships and injustices her and her people have and will continue to face. With the quote above in mind, it is clear to see that ‘The 7 stages of grieving’ combines the contemporary conventions of Australian theatre, such as applying multimedia with a decidedly traditional twist. Through the use of stagecraft and symbolism,

Australian dramas, such as David Williamson’s “The Removalists”, inclination to depend on stereotypes is not a weakness, but instead an opportunity to explore personal and societal issues. The inclusion of stereotypes within the play does not hinder the exploration of these issues, but instead deepens the audiences understanding and awareness. Through familiar roles, such as the ‘Oker’ identity, Williamson heightens the play, and allows a production to focus on the themes being explored. By using stereotyped characters in contrast with realistic characters and style, Williamson effectively comment on the faults of society without the distraction of character complexity.

his past. Tinging the cast of characters with the darkness of the protagonist’s personality, Wilson

the play are ―rich symbol[s]‖ that convey the barriers of a ―racist society‖ (Kenny par. 18). The

In Davis’ drama the character Jimmy serves as a voice of protest against the works highlighting of discrimination against Aborigines between 1929 to 1934. Jimmy is an Aboriginal man who despises the fact he is not equal in society to the white man and is not regarded as a ‘person’ by the government. Through Jimmy’s words and actions we see him openly stand up for himself and his people in they way they are treated by white people subsequently fulfilling his role as the voice of protest in the play. The most dramatic example of Jimmy fulfilling his service is when he argues with Mr Neville, the

Today I’ll be talking about the play “Blackrock” that I’ve been studying in class this term, the purpose of this speech is to make us think how Australian drama challenges us to think about Australian culture and identity, and the impacts it can have on us as person and as a community.

The play presents complex notions about family bonds, based upon their shared cultural experiences and the way in which they reinforce their cultural Australian identity and help members of the family endure the physical hardship and social isolation. Jack Davis’ social realist drama, ‘No Sugar’ explores how the varying levels of family unity, rebellion and cultural identity depicted in different characters influences their survival. In this play, the term ‘survival’ operates on two continuums. It is conveyed as the physical sense of life and death through the play’s protagonist, Jimmy Munday, as well as the pursuit of happiness. This pursuit is predominantly reflected in the parallel yet contrasted lives of Mary and Billy Kimberley as well as Gran’s deteriorating health after losing family members. Although Davis articulates the endurance of the Indigenous Australians, he incorporates figures of white authority who seek to demolish the Indigenous race and culture. Set in the time frame of 1929 to 1934, ‘No Sugar’ presents a critique of the conventional colonial British views of that era; and their effect on the preservation of Indigenous spirit and culture.

Plays take you to a new world and make you ask about life. They establish additional questions. These enduring questions are never-ending, but the amazingly make us think of our world in a newfangled, exciting, and intimidating way. Plays tell stories of the people of the past or people from the writer minds probably based off someone. Does social prejudice and expectations, cover up genius and innovation, but that shows how great these individualities and other people of advancement are that the genius shows through the prejudices and discrimination of the time.

life in the mid to late twentieth century and the strains of society on African Americans. Set in a small neighborhood of a big city, this play holds much conflict between a father, Troy Maxson, and his two sons, Lyons and Cory. By analyzing the sources of this conflict, one can better appreciate and understand the way the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work.

The media text Brisbane Tent Embassy battle goes on as Elder stands up for his sovereign rights by the National Indigenous Times News and the play Honey Spot by Jack Davis both incorporate themes of racism towards Indigenous Australians. The play deals with fictional events concerning tension between Anglo-Europeans and Indigenous Australians which are based on existing events, such as the event described in the media text. This was about an Indigenous man who was arrested for legally participating in his cultural practices, a theme which was touched on in the play also. The two written texts both explore similar themes involving Indigenous rights and discrimination against Indigenous Australians. Such similar themes are the traditional land use practices which the Indigenous Australians aren’t allowed to partake in, the conscious and subconscious racism displayed by the Anglo-Europeans, and how racial differences create issues in society.

The production spearheaded with a solemn poem by Langston Hughes entitled "Harlem." Preparing for an emotionally empowering theater piece, the poem quieted the audience and placed a serious blanket over us. While appropriate for me, I found it extremely coincidental that the poem's title, ties in directly with James Baldwin and his extensive writings on the 1943 Harlem race riots. With the lights off and just a solitary voice reciting the poem, it gave us, the audience, an immediate notion of play's melancholy style.