In his seminal work THE POETICS, Aristotle posited that only true tragic dramatic productions can provide the basis for facilitating the kind of open civil discussions that a society needs to fully function. Aristotle even went so far as to say the demise of tragic literature can signal the demise of democratic societies. Traditional tragic stories are those in which a protagonist (King Oedipus, Prince Hamlet, et al) must face a moral crisis while dealing with what has now been termed a “tragic flaw”. Watching these stories unfold gives the audiences the experience of “tragic inevitability” as the characters fall from grace, potentially inviting the audience members to contemplate their own reaction if placed in a similar situation. The dialogue inspired by these fictional tragedies can therefore aid engaged citizens in participating in difficult conversations surrounding contemporary complex real-world situations and perhaps lead to better understanding and even compromise. In today’s increasingly segmented society, the need for civil discourse in more important than ever. Noted theatre researcher Dr. Dolores Aguanno asserts that in a secular society, Musical Theatre fulfills the needs of a society who once relied on religion for its moral compass. My research aims to validate this supposition; encouraging artists and educators to use Musical Theatre as a way to provoke civil discourse. This can lead to a society that engages with disparate opinions and, optimistically, a society that strives for peace in today’s challenging times.

Authors:
Michael Mazur, North Texas Performing Arts, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Michael Mazur is the VP of Youth Theatres for the North Texas Performing Arts after serving as the Head of School for their NTPA Academy. His ongoing research explores the use of contemporary Musical Theatre as a means of inspiring civil discourse.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Tuesday Schedule

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