Artistic Intention

Ilo McDonald

Drama

MYP 5c

Introduction

My groups’ play is dealing with the issue of climate change. It is mainly directed at the millennial generation and expressing our thoughts on what they have or haven’t done to fight this problem. The message is to show the negative effects that climate change has all over the world. It has several different negative effects and each country has to deal with this. Climate change gets worse and worse every day, and this will eventually lead up to a mass extinction if humans don’t do something soon. The content is us, Gen Z, telling stories and information to prove that this problem should not be ignored.

Body

            In our play we will use various processes and techniques of agitprop. These include minimal use of props, mass recitation, episodic aspects, simplification of issues and much focus on the message. We will use very minimal props; this means that we are only using a water bottle to help visualize the water levels rising, and other than that there are no exterior props used. We include mass recitation in our play meaning we will have moments during the play where we chant together and make the same gestures as each other. There are multiple instances where we use mass recitation during the play. We are going to include episodic aspects in the way that the play is not a narrative play but people explaining their perspectives and inconveniences caused by the main issue; climate change. Everyone has a personal story that will move the audience in its own way. The play will include the simplification of problems because their will not be an in-depth research reported by the actors. The play simplifies the complex issue of climate change by showing various ways why it is “bad”. It mainly focuses on explaining/complaining to the millennial generation about climate change. The message of the play will be to influence change, spread awareness and spark something in the audience.

            This play explores the Statement of Inquiry, “Art is not just entertainment – it can be used to manipulate an audience and so provoke change in individuals and societies.” in the way that this play is not for entertainment purposes. It is to provoke the audience into being agitated about this issue in hopes that the audience can use this to bring a positive impact to society. This play will manipulate and influence the audience by showing many ways that climate change is a serious problem with horrible effects and will continue to get worse if humanity doesn’t try harder to stop it or at least slow it down. We would like to provoke change in our audience by upsetting them with our facts and/or opinions. Actions they can take after seeing this play include spreading awareness, creating their own solutions or helping others who are trying different things to stop climate change.

Conclusion

            In summary, this play hopes to influence the audience and provoke them. The reason behind this is to show how the negative effects of climate change may lead to the death of the planet. With the play we hope to achieve an outrage within the audience so that they try and help the world against this issue in their own way. We also want to include various agitprop elements in this play.