Interview Summary
The play, Passage, was about friends from two different countries. It was an interactive play, leading the audience in different exercises throughout. This play was particularly meaningful to the participant because of their connection to the cast and crew, as well as a connection to the content of the play. They were able to appreciate it in a deeper way because of their unique perspective as an artist. While the play did utilize some experimental techniques that might not land for a normal audience, the participant was able to appreciate the impact of it's message.
The participant attended this play with other artist friends. Throughout the play, the participant thought about it from a technical perspective, not just as an audience member enjoying a play. The unusually short intermission took the participant out of the play, and led them to view it from a more technical perspective. The play led the participant to think more deeply about their perspective and identity in relationships with others, as well as their identity as an artist.
The participant acknowledged the play's attempt to create a deep and spiritual experience. The play encouraged the participant to explore other people's perspectives. The participant reflected on their tendency to be performative, and this play confronted them with that aspect. It encouraged them to slow down and inspect their thought processes more, leading them to consider what aspects of themself are more true, and what are more preformative.
The participant recognized that, while they are Christian and the play was not, the play did portray similar themes of spirituality in regards to ultimate meaning. The participant resonated with the themes of connection. They acknowledged that they are able to connect with others outside of their religion, because they still have similar understandings of connection and purpose.
Interview Transcript
Introduction
Interviewer: Okay, and remember that you may stop any time without penalty. to your compensation or your participation.so i'll be asking you to tell us about interacting with an artwork created by another artist and to describe the experience. I know you've chosen the play so it doesn't have to be like the most important to you, but it should be meaningful and emotionally salient. It helps if your memories are vivid, but you don't have to remember everything.
Description
Interviewer: so what is the play that you'd like to talk about?
Participant 24: So this play in particular, I saw it with a friend of mine it was. It's called passage. it's something that my school performed this past semester and it was. It was a really. It was just an amazing piece to see. yeah. It was a former director of mine who put the piece together, who was the head of the creative team. and so, seeing that it was, it was very. It was very vivid, impossible to see her process that I've experienced before, but with a completely new play with completely new theme and new techniques and all of that. So it was. It was incredible to see it was awesome for me and my friend to see.
Interviewer: great. And then this next question it asks, do you have the artwork with you? I know, for a play you would wouldn't have it with you. but is there something that you could share about it? like a link to it? Or yeah, anything that you could share? I don't know if you could share it now, or if it'd be easier to share later.
Participant 24: I can. I can copy the program.yeah. Our school has like restrictions on recording any live performances all that. But I can. I can link the program to you.
Interviewer: Yeah, that'd be perfect. So then, could you describe the play for me. What are some of the important details?
Participant 24: Okay, so passage is based off of a book. that talks about sort of sort of the colonization of India. but the play itself is about 2 countries, country, Y, country, X. And the problems between oppressor and oppressed, and sort of this, this diminishing of culture and the sort of conflict of people who are friends from the 2 different countries.And there was the the way that this play was performed. it was very much. The audience was interacting with the scene itself, like none of the actors ever went off stage, so it you could see everyone at all times. They had a sort of narrator, sort of spiritual guide. where who would communicate directly to the audience and would guide us through like meditation techniques, breathing exercises, as the play would get to more and more intense moments. more emotionally salient moments.And this spiritual guide sort of also would relate the morals and the lessons of the play about about. You know how you communicate and talk with people who are of a different station, and in a different place of life, and how that in and of itself can sort of affect and impact you as a person. You as yourself your personal journey, and how you interact with people around you. And how your journey reflects on them, and their journey reflects back to you[1] .
Why did you choose this one? (Specialness)
Interviewer: Great! Thank you. and then why did you choose to talk about this play for this study?
Participant 24: because I think this play in particular, because of the director, my friend, and some friends that I had in the production itself. It was very it wasn't one that I enjoyed as just a viewer, but as an artist myself, I enjoyed the play. and it translated better to me and my friend who watched it because we have been in these people's shoes. We have been with this director with a not quite the same piece, but of a similar theme.And so with passage it was. It was more of an experience than than just a fun little afternoon diversion like it was an experience as an artist. It was something that communicated to me directly. Far more than I think much of the art that I've done personally in this past year
Interviewer: is, and is there anything about the medium of it being a play that's meaningful or distinguishing compared to other forms of art?
Participant 24: yeah with I've I saw a lot of plays, this semester. So that was. That's one part of it. But i'm in school for acting so I am an actor. I I've done plays, I do plays and there's always with acting in particular. There's always something about it with plays where it's not just visual like a painting, but it's, and it's not just auditorial auditory like with music. It like it's its sights and sounds, and music and experience and connection, and and it there's so many levels to how you perceive art in a, in a play that I think is just. It's something that I love. It's a reason that I love acting. but yeah, like like the costumes, and of themselves like between country X and country y the the costuming was so different! And immediately you could see oh, there from country wine, there from country X. Then there were there were soundscapes and music, and there was one. There were a couple of actors who were hard of hearing in that play, so you know they would all, they would say their lines, but they would also communicate with Asl in the play, and and in the introduction of the the ensemble as well[2] .
Interviewer: Great so now, please tell me about the experience and process of interacting with this play
What led up to the interaction? What motivated you to explore this piece?
Interviewer: by answering some questions. So what led up to interacting with this play. What motivated you to explore this this piece?
Participant 24: A friend saw that there were tickets, and that we could get them for discounted, so he encouraged me to go with him. a director a former director of ours, a a couple of friends of ours, and a free Saturday. So we went to a matinee, and the playwright was actually doing a zoomed q and a after the show. So we got to hear that and hear how the show went on. So it was a learning experience for both of us. So that's kind of why we chose the play and the day that we did.
Interviewer: great, do you think there was something that wanted or needed to e expressed through this play?
Participant 24: I think.and this is very critical. So it's always feels a little weird to be critical, but I think there was much that the play was trying to show and try to say, but I don't know if all the techniques that were employed were the best way to do it. So while there was that that spiritual guy who was talking to us directly as an audience about morals, and such, I think it was over over performative in a way that the message in and of itself got lost in this like hyper spirituality of it.but that all being said, I think the play is something that has a lot to offer in ways of sort of aiming to create a change in its audience. it it's a it's a deep piece. It's one that makes you think, and once that makes you feel, and we can always use more of that media, I think, in today's day and age. but be sort of the sort of message while Salient was not presented in a way that would would stick, I think, with the normal audience[3] .
When and where did the experience happen? Who was involved besides you (if anyone)?
Interviewer: Okay, and then. I know you talked about this a little bit already, but could you clarify when and where the experience happened, and then who was involved? Besides you
Participant 24: this play trying to think of the exact date. I believe it was right after Veterans Day, so it's like November fifteenth. Something like that, I think. but it was a a play at my school. I went to a matinee with an actor friend of mine, and a musician friend of ours, and we went to see this play with a director of ours. A couple of friends of ours were in it. just to to. I guess. Absorb and interact with it. Interact with the piece. Um yeah [4]
What were you thinking and feeling at different times throughout the process of interacting with the artwork?
Interviewer: yeah. And then you've also talked a little bit about this. But what were you thinking and feeling at different times throughout the process of interacting with the play?
Participant 24: I I kept thinking this is so strange, it seems so fun to be a part of with not having actors Exit the stage like that's always a little intimidating to to think from a performative standpoint that you are on for the whole performance.And and with interactions directly with the audience. That's not something that a lot of normal plays would do. So I kept thinking like this would be such an experience to be a part of. and that kind of. I think that kind of not not tainted, but colored. My view of the play, because I've worked with the this director, and I've worked with some of the castmates before I was like. If I were on the other side of this. It would be so amazing. It'd be so funny it would be so, whatever. But sitting in the audience stands instead. It was. It was slightly different. It was it it it It caused me to think more like I was thinking constantly. I wasn't just seeing the play for the play[5]
Can you describe any high points, low points or challenges, or turning points along the way?
Interviewer: great. And then can you describe any high points, low points, or challenges, or turning points in your interaction with this play?
Participant 24: I think one of the odd points of this play that, like, I was, sort of caused me pause, I think, was - wait sorry, one second, sorry. Could you repeat the question?
Interviewer: yeah, I would ask you to talk about either a high point, a low point, or challenge, or a turning point in your interaction.
Participant 24: okay okay high point, low point, turning point During the intermission for the play. It was a 1 min intermission which was so odd it was it, was it it it drastically changed how we were interacting with it. But the spiritual guy for the play came out and said something along the lines of “okay, So we're going to take a very quick break, and by that I mean 1 min you could stand up. You can stretch. You can talk to your neighbor about what you're seeing. But we ask that you don't leave the performance because we are going to resume very quickly, momentarily.” and I turned to my friend, and I was like “this is so strange” it's like, I know right. So we were trying to figure out like what was the thought process of our director behind this what was like motivation, what kind of what kinda was going on? What was happening, you know. and it it it's it's. I think that's when it was like official that, like I'm not watching this as a fun audience member like, i'm watching this as an actor like, before, I was like, I was like, okay, I can I can suspend my disbelief, you know I can I can go along for the ride. But at that point I was like. Let me look at this from a technical standpoint. What's happening here? What's going on? What are they doing? So that was, kind of, that was that was a major thing for me. And and it happened right after like this huge climax for the play, for in the course of the story of the plot, so it was like you took me out of there for a second. So now I have to I have to watch it now for more sort of tech technical standpoint[6] .
What did you learn from the process of interacting with the artwork? Did you learn anything about yourself?
Interviewer: Okay, thank you. So let's talk about the impact of the play on you and your life. What did you learn about the process of it from the process of interacting with the play I did you learn anything about yourself?
Participant 24: I think it did. I think I sort of learned in a very, in a very like less less artistic way, I suppose. I definitely reevaluated in myself how I interact between people groups. the play itself was about a friend, mainly about a friendship between the member of an oppressed country and their friendship to one of the people from the oppressor country. And so, as a black woman. that was something that like caused me to think like, oh, okay, this is this is, I understand this perspective. But now let me kind of look at it from an outside perspective. How this would be viewed, or how I would interact with my white male friends. And how does that differ? What does that mean for me and I I in in this process? I sort of. you know, sort of learned to take an outside view. not just in that facet, but just in in more of life's elements that you know from an actor standpoint like. Yes, you can watch as an audience, you can watch it as an actor, but just experience the art form and judge later that it was. It was kind of a multi layered sort of lesson for me with with this play with passage[7] .
Do you think that the artist intended the work to affect others or the world in any particular ways?
Interviewer: Oh, sure, and then do you think that the play was intended to affect the others or the world in any particular ways?
Participant 24: I think it was trying to. I think it was. It was going for that spiritual experience with a deep message. And again, I don't know if they did all of the elements the best, but I do think it was sort of like a fascinating experience, no matter where you are, where where your position in life is[8] .
Did your experience affect your understanding of others or “the world”?
Interviewer: and you've already touched upon this question a little bit. But did your experience with the play affect your understanding of others or the world?
Participant 24: umm I don't know if it made me understand any one group better, but I think it taught me to look in different perspectives, to put myself in different perspectives. and not just. you know. See it from my perspective, from my experience, but to sort of try to understand in other experiences. It did not paint that picture for me, but encouraged me to investigate that picture[9] .
Interviewer: Sure.
Did you have any insights about your own authentic (or inauthentic) self?
Interviewer: Okay. And then this prompt is a little bit longer. So when some people think about themselves they see some parts of themselves as deeply true, real, or authentic. If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about your true nature during the process of interacting with the play? Did you have any insights about your own authentic or inauthentic self
Participant 24: I think. Oh, that's a that's a big one. I think I can be very performative in how I interact with people, not just because I am a performer, but because you know what I show off is very curated. And and you know there were certain parts of this play that shove that in my face. and in that in that sense of inauthentic self it was it. It was heavy. But trying to hit all the points in that question. I think that it's something that I can be challenged on quite often. and I don't know if it was just this play in particular, or it was. you know, a a correct time for me, with other things in going on in my life. But I I tend to be a very quick thinker over thinker in a way like i'm i'm my mind never fully stops it never stops. I'm always. There's always something going on. So so I think. because of the way the play was done. It did cause me to slow down some. but that didn't by any means like cheapen, or or make my thought process more shallow. It was just like. Take a breath. Think about it again. Think about it some more and I think that it it. you know it's all about perspectives. And this play did make a lot of those things come up like how I was thinking and interacting, and and what was true to me, and, what was more performative[10] .
Interviewer: interesting. Yeah, thank you.
Did you learn anything about ultimate meaning during the process?
Interviewer: so this prompt is also a little longer. Some people believe in ultimate meaning. so this is defined as deep underlying meaning that transcends subjective personal meaning. It is about the nature of existence and identity, and it may include ideas about the significance of suffering as well as spirituality. If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about ultimate meaning during the process of interacting with this play?
Participant 24: I can resonate and identify with some parts of that. I think the way it's presented makes it not quite it for me. because I am Christian. So so ultimate meeting is it's it's almost like a sort of worldly diminishing of of like meaning of life, or God's will, or anything like that And this I think this play was aiming for a similar type of place of of ultimate meaning. universal sort of rules and morals and protocols uhh type of thing. But given that it's the plays sense of spirituality. It was not quite Christian spirituality. So for me, there's there's there is a difference between that and. you know, like absolute truth or versus ultimate meaning. I think that kind of makes sense[11]
Interviewer: sure.
Perceptions of reality beyond the physical world.
Interviewer: So then, some people believe or perceive a reality beyond the physical or material world. So this may include religious beliefs or experiences, such as perceived interactions with God, but may include mystical or transcendent experiences or interactions with spirits. did you have any of these kinds of experiences during your interaction with this play?
Participant 24: I don't. I don't think so. I don't think it was very, very spiritual for me in in the religion sense. It was not very spiritual, but it did. It was aiming at sort of themes of of higher purpose, I suppose, but it was not religious spirituality.
Interviewer: Okay, yeah. So even if you didn't have an experience like that, you might have felt some sort of inspiration guidance or encouragement from the non-physical or supernatural. we might have felt some sense of presence or connection. did you have any of these kinds of experiences during your interaction with the play.
Participant 24: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think connection. One of the things that the director would always say was, was, oh, does that resonate with you. So there was a lot of resonance, I think, with the play and the the sort of goals of connection between audience and actors, audience and artists. Yeah. So so there was. There was a sense of connection and and morals and direction.
Interviewer: And then you talked a little bit about what that experience was like How, how, if at all, I did, you did it affect you as a person and your own religious and spiritual beliefs, If it affected them at all.
Participant 24: I don't think it really did affect spiritual beliefs. It was sort of like a even if someone does not. This is the and this is a sort of theme or idea that I've interacted with a lot in my in my arc as an artist is, even if people don't sort of agree with or resonate, or believe in in the religious religious sort of sense of spirituality and higher purpose and spiritual connection, that there’s still a more secular understanding of connection and purpose, and in in truth and all that. So it's in the right direction. It's not in the exact location, but it's. It's a still general sort of understanding[12] .
Interviewer: And then I just have a few shorter follow-ups.
How old were you?
Interviewer: So how old were you when you interacted with this play
Participant 24: 19
How did you perceive the quality of the work?
Interviewer: and then you've touched upon this a little bit through a number of answers. But how did you perceive the quality of this play?
Participant 24: It was well done. definitely not professional level. But it was the actors cared that I know, for the fact that the director cared, and the playwright wrote this with an intention, so there was a lot of care and purpose behind the sort of construction of this piece.
Life events
Interviewer: and then Would you like to talk any more about what may have been going on in your own life. Around the time that you interacted with the play
Participant 24: I can touch on some of the things.I've sort of been investigating and dealing with different factors of my own identity. particularly in my ethnic identity, and how I come off to others in my ethnic identity, being ethnically ambiguous for the most part. And that was something that came up several times throughout the the sort of weeks and months leading up to seeing the play. including having to write my own monologue, my own piece of art that dealt with that in depth. So I think that the play with its talk of perspectives and oppressor or oppressed it was it was. It was a little, too, on the nose. There were a lot of things of similar similar themes happening at the same time. That kind of made the play stick out more to me.
Interviewer: Great: yeah, that was great. Thank you so much.
The play, Passage, was about friends from two different countries. It was an interactive play, leading the audience in different exercises throughout. This play was particularly meaningful to the participant because of their connection to the cast and crew, as well as a connection to the content of the play. They were able to appreciate it in a deeper way because of their unique perspective as an artist. While the play did utilize some experimental techniques that might not land for a normal audience, the participant was able to appreciate the impact of it's message.
The participant attended this play with other artist friends. Throughout the play, the participant thought about it from a technical perspective, not just as an audience member enjoying a play. The unusually short intermission took the participant out of the play, and led them to view it from a more technical perspective. The play led the participant to think more deeply about their perspective and identity in relationships with others, as well as their identity as an artist.
The participant acknowledged the play's attempt to create a deep and spiritual experience. The play encouraged the participant to explore other people's perspectives. The participant reflected on their tendency to be performative, and this play confronted them with that aspect. It encouraged them to slow down and inspect their thought processes more, leading them to consider what aspects of themself are more true, and what are more preformative.
The participant recognized that, while they are Christian and the play was not, the play did portray similar themes of spirituality in regards to ultimate meaning. The participant resonated with the themes of connection. They acknowledged that they are able to connect with others outside of their religion, because they still have similar understandings of connection and purpose.
Interview Transcript
Introduction
Interviewer: Okay, and remember that you may stop any time without penalty. to your compensation or your participation.so i'll be asking you to tell us about interacting with an artwork created by another artist and to describe the experience. I know you've chosen the play so it doesn't have to be like the most important to you, but it should be meaningful and emotionally salient. It helps if your memories are vivid, but you don't have to remember everything.
Description
Interviewer: so what is the play that you'd like to talk about?
Participant 24: So this play in particular, I saw it with a friend of mine it was. It's called passage. it's something that my school performed this past semester and it was. It was a really. It was just an amazing piece to see. yeah. It was a former director of mine who put the piece together, who was the head of the creative team. and so, seeing that it was, it was very. It was very vivid, impossible to see her process that I've experienced before, but with a completely new play with completely new theme and new techniques and all of that. So it was. It was incredible to see it was awesome for me and my friend to see.
Interviewer: great. And then this next question it asks, do you have the artwork with you? I know, for a play you would wouldn't have it with you. but is there something that you could share about it? like a link to it? Or yeah, anything that you could share? I don't know if you could share it now, or if it'd be easier to share later.
Participant 24: I can. I can copy the program.yeah. Our school has like restrictions on recording any live performances all that. But I can. I can link the program to you.
Interviewer: Yeah, that'd be perfect. So then, could you describe the play for me. What are some of the important details?
Participant 24: Okay, so passage is based off of a book. that talks about sort of sort of the colonization of India. but the play itself is about 2 countries, country, Y, country, X. And the problems between oppressor and oppressed, and sort of this, this diminishing of culture and the sort of conflict of people who are friends from the 2 different countries.And there was the the way that this play was performed. it was very much. The audience was interacting with the scene itself, like none of the actors ever went off stage, so it you could see everyone at all times. They had a sort of narrator, sort of spiritual guide. where who would communicate directly to the audience and would guide us through like meditation techniques, breathing exercises, as the play would get to more and more intense moments. more emotionally salient moments.And this spiritual guide sort of also would relate the morals and the lessons of the play about about. You know how you communicate and talk with people who are of a different station, and in a different place of life, and how that in and of itself can sort of affect and impact you as a person. You as yourself your personal journey, and how you interact with people around you. And how your journey reflects on them, and their journey reflects back to you[1] .
Why did you choose this one? (Specialness)
Interviewer: Great! Thank you. and then why did you choose to talk about this play for this study?
Participant 24: because I think this play in particular, because of the director, my friend, and some friends that I had in the production itself. It was very it wasn't one that I enjoyed as just a viewer, but as an artist myself, I enjoyed the play. and it translated better to me and my friend who watched it because we have been in these people's shoes. We have been with this director with a not quite the same piece, but of a similar theme.And so with passage it was. It was more of an experience than than just a fun little afternoon diversion like it was an experience as an artist. It was something that communicated to me directly. Far more than I think much of the art that I've done personally in this past year
Interviewer: is, and is there anything about the medium of it being a play that's meaningful or distinguishing compared to other forms of art?
Participant 24: yeah with I've I saw a lot of plays, this semester. So that was. That's one part of it. But i'm in school for acting so I am an actor. I I've done plays, I do plays and there's always with acting in particular. There's always something about it with plays where it's not just visual like a painting, but it's, and it's not just auditorial auditory like with music. It like it's its sights and sounds, and music and experience and connection, and and it there's so many levels to how you perceive art in a, in a play that I think is just. It's something that I love. It's a reason that I love acting. but yeah, like like the costumes, and of themselves like between country X and country y the the costuming was so different! And immediately you could see oh, there from country wine, there from country X. Then there were there were soundscapes and music, and there was one. There were a couple of actors who were hard of hearing in that play, so you know they would all, they would say their lines, but they would also communicate with Asl in the play, and and in the introduction of the the ensemble as well[2] .
Interviewer: Great so now, please tell me about the experience and process of interacting with this play
What led up to the interaction? What motivated you to explore this piece?
Interviewer: by answering some questions. So what led up to interacting with this play. What motivated you to explore this this piece?
Participant 24: A friend saw that there were tickets, and that we could get them for discounted, so he encouraged me to go with him. a director a former director of ours, a a couple of friends of ours, and a free Saturday. So we went to a matinee, and the playwright was actually doing a zoomed q and a after the show. So we got to hear that and hear how the show went on. So it was a learning experience for both of us. So that's kind of why we chose the play and the day that we did.
Interviewer: great, do you think there was something that wanted or needed to e expressed through this play?
Participant 24: I think.and this is very critical. So it's always feels a little weird to be critical, but I think there was much that the play was trying to show and try to say, but I don't know if all the techniques that were employed were the best way to do it. So while there was that that spiritual guy who was talking to us directly as an audience about morals, and such, I think it was over over performative in a way that the message in and of itself got lost in this like hyper spirituality of it.but that all being said, I think the play is something that has a lot to offer in ways of sort of aiming to create a change in its audience. it it's a it's a deep piece. It's one that makes you think, and once that makes you feel, and we can always use more of that media, I think, in today's day and age. but be sort of the sort of message while Salient was not presented in a way that would would stick, I think, with the normal audience[3] .
When and where did the experience happen? Who was involved besides you (if anyone)?
Interviewer: Okay, and then. I know you talked about this a little bit already, but could you clarify when and where the experience happened, and then who was involved? Besides you
Participant 24: this play trying to think of the exact date. I believe it was right after Veterans Day, so it's like November fifteenth. Something like that, I think. but it was a a play at my school. I went to a matinee with an actor friend of mine, and a musician friend of ours, and we went to see this play with a director of ours. A couple of friends of ours were in it. just to to. I guess. Absorb and interact with it. Interact with the piece. Um yeah [4]
What were you thinking and feeling at different times throughout the process of interacting with the artwork?
Interviewer: yeah. And then you've also talked a little bit about this. But what were you thinking and feeling at different times throughout the process of interacting with the play?
Participant 24: I I kept thinking this is so strange, it seems so fun to be a part of with not having actors Exit the stage like that's always a little intimidating to to think from a performative standpoint that you are on for the whole performance.And and with interactions directly with the audience. That's not something that a lot of normal plays would do. So I kept thinking like this would be such an experience to be a part of. and that kind of. I think that kind of not not tainted, but colored. My view of the play, because I've worked with the this director, and I've worked with some of the castmates before I was like. If I were on the other side of this. It would be so amazing. It'd be so funny it would be so, whatever. But sitting in the audience stands instead. It was. It was slightly different. It was it it it It caused me to think more like I was thinking constantly. I wasn't just seeing the play for the play[5]
Can you describe any high points, low points or challenges, or turning points along the way?
Interviewer: great. And then can you describe any high points, low points, or challenges, or turning points in your interaction with this play?
Participant 24: I think one of the odd points of this play that, like, I was, sort of caused me pause, I think, was - wait sorry, one second, sorry. Could you repeat the question?
Interviewer: yeah, I would ask you to talk about either a high point, a low point, or challenge, or a turning point in your interaction.
Participant 24: okay okay high point, low point, turning point During the intermission for the play. It was a 1 min intermission which was so odd it was it, was it it it drastically changed how we were interacting with it. But the spiritual guy for the play came out and said something along the lines of “okay, So we're going to take a very quick break, and by that I mean 1 min you could stand up. You can stretch. You can talk to your neighbor about what you're seeing. But we ask that you don't leave the performance because we are going to resume very quickly, momentarily.” and I turned to my friend, and I was like “this is so strange” it's like, I know right. So we were trying to figure out like what was the thought process of our director behind this what was like motivation, what kind of what kinda was going on? What was happening, you know. and it it it's it's. I think that's when it was like official that, like I'm not watching this as a fun audience member like, i'm watching this as an actor like, before, I was like, I was like, okay, I can I can suspend my disbelief, you know I can I can go along for the ride. But at that point I was like. Let me look at this from a technical standpoint. What's happening here? What's going on? What are they doing? So that was, kind of, that was that was a major thing for me. And and it happened right after like this huge climax for the play, for in the course of the story of the plot, so it was like you took me out of there for a second. So now I have to I have to watch it now for more sort of tech technical standpoint[6] .
What did you learn from the process of interacting with the artwork? Did you learn anything about yourself?
Interviewer: Okay, thank you. So let's talk about the impact of the play on you and your life. What did you learn about the process of it from the process of interacting with the play I did you learn anything about yourself?
Participant 24: I think it did. I think I sort of learned in a very, in a very like less less artistic way, I suppose. I definitely reevaluated in myself how I interact between people groups. the play itself was about a friend, mainly about a friendship between the member of an oppressed country and their friendship to one of the people from the oppressor country. And so, as a black woman. that was something that like caused me to think like, oh, okay, this is this is, I understand this perspective. But now let me kind of look at it from an outside perspective. How this would be viewed, or how I would interact with my white male friends. And how does that differ? What does that mean for me and I I in in this process? I sort of. you know, sort of learned to take an outside view. not just in that facet, but just in in more of life's elements that you know from an actor standpoint like. Yes, you can watch as an audience, you can watch it as an actor, but just experience the art form and judge later that it was. It was kind of a multi layered sort of lesson for me with with this play with passage[7] .
Do you think that the artist intended the work to affect others or the world in any particular ways?
Interviewer: Oh, sure, and then do you think that the play was intended to affect the others or the world in any particular ways?
Participant 24: I think it was trying to. I think it was. It was going for that spiritual experience with a deep message. And again, I don't know if they did all of the elements the best, but I do think it was sort of like a fascinating experience, no matter where you are, where where your position in life is[8] .
Did your experience affect your understanding of others or “the world”?
Interviewer: and you've already touched upon this question a little bit. But did your experience with the play affect your understanding of others or the world?
Participant 24: umm I don't know if it made me understand any one group better, but I think it taught me to look in different perspectives, to put myself in different perspectives. and not just. you know. See it from my perspective, from my experience, but to sort of try to understand in other experiences. It did not paint that picture for me, but encouraged me to investigate that picture[9] .
Interviewer: Sure.
Did you have any insights about your own authentic (or inauthentic) self?
Interviewer: Okay. And then this prompt is a little bit longer. So when some people think about themselves they see some parts of themselves as deeply true, real, or authentic. If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about your true nature during the process of interacting with the play? Did you have any insights about your own authentic or inauthentic self
Participant 24: I think. Oh, that's a that's a big one. I think I can be very performative in how I interact with people, not just because I am a performer, but because you know what I show off is very curated. And and you know there were certain parts of this play that shove that in my face. and in that in that sense of inauthentic self it was it. It was heavy. But trying to hit all the points in that question. I think that it's something that I can be challenged on quite often. and I don't know if it was just this play in particular, or it was. you know, a a correct time for me, with other things in going on in my life. But I I tend to be a very quick thinker over thinker in a way like i'm i'm my mind never fully stops it never stops. I'm always. There's always something going on. So so I think. because of the way the play was done. It did cause me to slow down some. but that didn't by any means like cheapen, or or make my thought process more shallow. It was just like. Take a breath. Think about it again. Think about it some more and I think that it it. you know it's all about perspectives. And this play did make a lot of those things come up like how I was thinking and interacting, and and what was true to me, and, what was more performative[10] .
Interviewer: interesting. Yeah, thank you.
Did you learn anything about ultimate meaning during the process?
Interviewer: so this prompt is also a little longer. Some people believe in ultimate meaning. so this is defined as deep underlying meaning that transcends subjective personal meaning. It is about the nature of existence and identity, and it may include ideas about the significance of suffering as well as spirituality. If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about ultimate meaning during the process of interacting with this play?
Participant 24: I can resonate and identify with some parts of that. I think the way it's presented makes it not quite it for me. because I am Christian. So so ultimate meeting is it's it's almost like a sort of worldly diminishing of of like meaning of life, or God's will, or anything like that And this I think this play was aiming for a similar type of place of of ultimate meaning. universal sort of rules and morals and protocols uhh type of thing. But given that it's the plays sense of spirituality. It was not quite Christian spirituality. So for me, there's there's there is a difference between that and. you know, like absolute truth or versus ultimate meaning. I think that kind of makes sense[11]
Interviewer: sure.
Perceptions of reality beyond the physical world.
Interviewer: So then, some people believe or perceive a reality beyond the physical or material world. So this may include religious beliefs or experiences, such as perceived interactions with God, but may include mystical or transcendent experiences or interactions with spirits. did you have any of these kinds of experiences during your interaction with this play?
Participant 24: I don't. I don't think so. I don't think it was very, very spiritual for me in in the religion sense. It was not very spiritual, but it did. It was aiming at sort of themes of of higher purpose, I suppose, but it was not religious spirituality.
Interviewer: Okay, yeah. So even if you didn't have an experience like that, you might have felt some sort of inspiration guidance or encouragement from the non-physical or supernatural. we might have felt some sense of presence or connection. did you have any of these kinds of experiences during your interaction with the play.
Participant 24: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think connection. One of the things that the director would always say was, was, oh, does that resonate with you. So there was a lot of resonance, I think, with the play and the the sort of goals of connection between audience and actors, audience and artists. Yeah. So so there was. There was a sense of connection and and morals and direction.
Interviewer: And then you talked a little bit about what that experience was like How, how, if at all, I did, you did it affect you as a person and your own religious and spiritual beliefs, If it affected them at all.
Participant 24: I don't think it really did affect spiritual beliefs. It was sort of like a even if someone does not. This is the and this is a sort of theme or idea that I've interacted with a lot in my in my arc as an artist is, even if people don't sort of agree with or resonate, or believe in in the religious religious sort of sense of spirituality and higher purpose and spiritual connection, that there’s still a more secular understanding of connection and purpose, and in in truth and all that. So it's in the right direction. It's not in the exact location, but it's. It's a still general sort of understanding[12] .
Interviewer: And then I just have a few shorter follow-ups.
How old were you?
Interviewer: So how old were you when you interacted with this play
Participant 24: 19
How did you perceive the quality of the work?
Interviewer: and then you've touched upon this a little bit through a number of answers. But how did you perceive the quality of this play?
Participant 24: It was well done. definitely not professional level. But it was the actors cared that I know, for the fact that the director cared, and the playwright wrote this with an intention, so there was a lot of care and purpose behind the sort of construction of this piece.
Life events
Interviewer: and then Would you like to talk any more about what may have been going on in your own life. Around the time that you interacted with the play
Participant 24: I can touch on some of the things.I've sort of been investigating and dealing with different factors of my own identity. particularly in my ethnic identity, and how I come off to others in my ethnic identity, being ethnically ambiguous for the most part. And that was something that came up several times throughout the the sort of weeks and months leading up to seeing the play. including having to write my own monologue, my own piece of art that dealt with that in depth. So I think that the play with its talk of perspectives and oppressor or oppressed it was it was. It was a little, too, on the nose. There were a lot of things of similar similar themes happening at the same time. That kind of made the play stick out more to me.
Interviewer: Great: yeah, that was great. Thank you so much.
Proudly powered by Weebly