To Think

...After Professor Tanglao-Aguas' lecture on Roar, I mean When the Purple Settles

Today I learned about a kind of theatre that does more than entertain. I learned about a genre of theatre that evokes catharsis, and even further evokes understanding in one's own life. This genre of theatre is called Brechtian theatre.

According to professor Tanglao-Aquas, the goal of Purple is to impact a person so much as to lay a claim on their brain, and to make them question who he/she is. The power this implies is incredible.

I will admit that reading Purple was difficult for me. I began reading it, was emotionally overwhelmed, took a nap, and then finally was able to finish. This was not a play that I could easily breeze through and feel complete as I turned the last page. Instead this play created in me a sense of unease that lingered for the rest of the day. It made me wonder why someone would feel the need to express such intense emotions and actions in a single play. Purple reminded me that everywhere in the world people face challenges more extreme than I could in my wildest dreams imagine.

After Professor Tanglao-Aguas explained his intentions I felt much better about what I had read. His goal was to disturb. His goal was to make the reader think so much that she couldn't simply set the play down and move onto another activity without first thinking about Purple. I know that he achieved his goal. On another note, I believe that if this play had been acted out where I could fully visualize the quick changes in action, then I would better understand the complexity of the piece.

wow.