Give Rise

Abstract

"Give rise to magic / now. Tear off the mask, create! / Create now, or die." For my Voice & Movement class in Fall of 2019, I wrote and performed an extended version of this haiku titled "Give Rise." In "Give Rise," I implement Grotowski's five focuses of breath, phonation, resonance, articulation, and thought, as well as my posture and physical placement in the room, in order to portray different characters. Building the performance was a process. In my initial writing, I was inspired by Grotowski's concept of starting from the roots of our being and abandoning all social identities or markers ("masks") when acting. I intended to portray the urgency and spontaneity behind creating art with abandon. Upon further thought, the phrase "create now or die" bothered me. I found myself reflecting on the meaning behind such a demand. Ultimately, "Give Rise" embodies a brief exploration of mental health and its relationship with producing art. My haiku performance became a critique of my own haiku. While I have my own method behind my performance choices, these choices intend to make room for personal interpretation.