Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 19:01:12 -0700 To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org From: Steve Axtell <steve-AT-axtell.com> Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] what are puppets used for in todays world? Puppets are also used for Education and Horror films. ax At 06:33 PM 3/22/2007, you wrote: >One modern use of puppets that is becoming more >widespread is for public demonstrations, protests, >strikes and other "direct action" events. This is not >an entirely modern application, as puppets have had a >role in parades, religious processions and the like >for many centuries, maybe millenia. > >But in the last ten years, organizations like Take >Back the Night (a neighborhood and women's >empowerement movement aimed at re-establishing safe >urban environments), the Radical Action Network (which >took part in the demonstrations against the WTO in >Seattle, the IMF and World Bank in D.C., and the party >conventions during the last two presidential >elections) as well as unions, immigrnats' rights >organizations and others, have started to capitalize >on the power of giant puppets as a means of low cost >mass-communication with the public. > >Some, like Wise Fool Puppet Intervention, are puppet >artists specifically dedicated to supporting social >justice movements. In the Heart of The Beast, a mask >and puppet theater in Minneapolis, uses free public >workshops to enable people to build their own parade >puppets, which they can then use in community events >like the May Day celebration. > >Here in Austin I've taught free art classes at rec >centers for high schoolers who made 15 foot tall >puppets to carry in our First Night procession. The >kids got to choose, at least in my class, what to >make, and built a rapper and a DJ, which we were told >they would not be allowed to use because they were >"inappropriate." But the kids got to carry them in >the parade in the end, which I think helped the >project achieve its goal of empowering youth >artistically and culturally. > >So anyway, that's one thing puppets are used for in >today's world: grassroots mass-communication, >community building, self-empowerment of those who >can't afford media campaigns. Of course it wasn't >long before corporate events began hiring people to >imitate these public displays in sevice of the System, >but that's to be expected. > > There's an essay about this very subject at >www.zeitgeist.net/wfca/radpup.htm > >Hope it's of interest to you. > >-Connor Hopkins >TroublePuppet Theater Company > > > > >TroublePuppet Theater Company >Austin Puppet Society Member >_______________________________________________ >List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org >Admin interface: >http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org >Archives: http://www.driftline.org > > > >-- >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG Free Edition. >Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.17/730 >- Release Date: 3/22/2007 7:44 AM Steve Axtell Axtell Expressions, Inc. **************************************** Amazing Puppet Character's Website - http://www.axtell.com "AxTelevision" on DVD - http://www.axtelevision.com International Performer's Directory - http://www.axtell.com/performers.html The original content of this email or attachments is =A9 Axtell Expressions, Inc. _______________________________________________ List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Admin interface: http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org Archives: http://www.driftline.org
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