Theoretical Theatre: harnessing the power of comedy to teach social science theory
Role playing is increasingly used in European Studies and political science more generally to foster students understanding of social science theories. Yet in most cases, role playing is only done by students. Not so in Theoretical Theatre, a teaching innovation which puts the onus on teachers to ac...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
UACES
2017-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Contemporary European Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.jcer.net/index.php/jcer/article/view/824 |
| _version_ | 1811226990216216576 |
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| author | Viviane Gravey Irene Lorenzoni Gill Seyfang Tom Hargreaves |
| author_facet | Viviane Gravey Irene Lorenzoni Gill Seyfang Tom Hargreaves |
| author_sort | Viviane Gravey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Role playing is increasingly used in European Studies and political science more generally to foster students understanding of social science theories. Yet in most cases, role playing is only done by students. Not so in Theoretical Theatre, a teaching innovation which puts the onus on teachers to act. In our performances, teachers embody competing theories and enact dramatic scenarios in front, and in collaboration with, their student audience. This article explains how we developed Theoretical Theatre and how it relates not only to games and simulations but also Drama In Education. It reflects on our experience of performing across four modules since 2012 and our students’ feedback and discusses how it can be sustained over time and transferred to other settings and disciplines. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T09:33:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c7e329b2573949d9a6fae28e44be7f0b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1815-347X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T09:33:55Z |
| publishDate | 2017-08-01 |
| publisher | UACES |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Contemporary European Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-c7e329b2573949d9a6fae28e44be7f0b2022-12-22T03:38:17ZengUACESJournal of Contemporary European Research1815-347X2017-08-01133824Theoretical Theatre: harnessing the power of comedy to teach social science theoryViviane Gravey0Irene Lorenzoni1Gill Seyfang2Tom Hargreaves3Queen's University BelfastUniversity of East AngliaUniversity of East AngliaUniversity of East AngliaRole playing is increasingly used in European Studies and political science more generally to foster students understanding of social science theories. Yet in most cases, role playing is only done by students. Not so in Theoretical Theatre, a teaching innovation which puts the onus on teachers to act. In our performances, teachers embody competing theories and enact dramatic scenarios in front, and in collaboration with, their student audience. This article explains how we developed Theoretical Theatre and how it relates not only to games and simulations but also Drama In Education. It reflects on our experience of performing across four modules since 2012 and our students’ feedback and discusses how it can be sustained over time and transferred to other settings and disciplines.https://www.jcer.net/index.php/jcer/article/view/824Role playingtheatreenvironmentmethodsteachingsimulations |
| spellingShingle | Viviane Gravey Irene Lorenzoni Gill Seyfang Tom Hargreaves Theoretical Theatre: harnessing the power of comedy to teach social science theory Journal of Contemporary European Research Role playing theatre environment methods teaching simulations |
| title | Theoretical Theatre: harnessing the power of comedy to teach social science theory |
| title_full | Theoretical Theatre: harnessing the power of comedy to teach social science theory |
| title_fullStr | Theoretical Theatre: harnessing the power of comedy to teach social science theory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Theoretical Theatre: harnessing the power of comedy to teach social science theory |
| title_short | Theoretical Theatre: harnessing the power of comedy to teach social science theory |
| title_sort | theoretical theatre harnessing the power of comedy to teach social science theory |
| topic | Role playing theatre environment methods teaching simulations |
| url | https://www.jcer.net/index.php/jcer/article/view/824 |
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