Response:
Explorative strategy: Status card game
1.What does this game suggest about the way we relate to each other?
2. Your group has used this explorative strategy to explore one of the scenes. Describe What are your findings so far?
3.How does this game help you to understand the dynamics of the relationships between any of the following - Officers and convicts, officers and officer or convicts and convicts.
Evaluation;
1.Thinking back on your exploration so far... reflect upon what you now know about the convicts and officers of the First Fleet and the Social, cultural and historical context of that time and place.
2.Reflect upon Timberlake Wertenbakker's choices in structuring and presenting this as a play. Consider the power of the opening scene and its importance to the whol play.
2 comments:
The status card game helps us to see how people react to others of different status. When someone has a high status they accept the person and treat them with respect by looking into there eyes and giving them space. With cards of lower status they tend to be ignored and pushed around. This body language immediatly triggers ones status.
We used the status card game to explore the middle of Act 1 Scene 11. This part includes Ralph, Liz, and Wisehammer. In doing this we found that in this scene Liz is a low status but playing high, Ralph is a high status playing medium, and Wisehammer is a low status playing high.
Through this game we can see how onboard the convict fleet the officers relationship with the convicts vary depending on the situation. With this scene Ralph Clark is treating the convicts with less of a high status because he needs to get them to connect and understand him. However normally the officers would treat the convicts the opposite. With convicts and convicts it is obvious that they try to stand up for each other but at the same time the female convicts are considered much lower status.
During the First Fleet I can see how the convicts and officers treated one another and that status was a very important thing onboard the fleet.
I think the opening scene of the play is very important because it introduces the play well but at the same time we can see the different status levels of the four characters which gives us an idea of whats to come in the play.
Cat
The status card game enabled us to really see the different dynamics between people and characters alike, whether it be in a play or an actual everyday situation. People with a higher status regard others of the same with respect and self-confidence. This is shown through body language and signals like eye-contact, spatial awareness and posture. When dealing with those of a lower status, a sudden aloofness is brought on. Those with the lower status tend to be more fidgety, cannot retain eye-contact and may hunch over. It would seem that one's reactions depend on the other person and their status.
As an explorative strategy, we used this game on Act 1 Scene 11. This section includes Ralph, Liz and Wisehammer. We were able see that while Liz, who is a convict, has a low status, she tends to play much higher up in the rankings. Ralph has the habit of down-playing his status but Wisehammer does the opposite and to the extreme: he is obviously low but acts like he is meant to be high status.
Throughout the scene we were able to further understand the dynamics between the officers and the convicts. Ralph, most likely because he is the director of the play and wants it to be successful, brings his status level down so all are able to act as equals; thus creating an atmosphere where it is easier to connect. However, Ralph seems to be an exception as most of the other officers, such as Wisehammer, take advantage of their power and use it to humiliate the 'inferior' convicts. When it is between convicts and convicts, the atmosphere is more relaxed and friendly. In addition, the fact that the convicts are woman seem to bring their status' down too, as was common in that era.
When reading the script after the exploration, with a better understanding of the characters fresh in my mind, it became more obvious how the writing and lines emphasized the dynamics onboard the First Fleet.
The opening scene of this play is crucial as it establishes the character's status'. It gives an impression of the different levels that will be brought in through the play.
- Isla
Post a Comment