Indigenous Australian Songdram The Great Father Spirits
A MATTER OF STYLE - TOPIC 1
ORIGINS
Origins of Drama and Theatre – Indigenous Australian Songdrama
THEATRE STYLE
Indigenous Australian Songdrama – The Great Father Spirits
LESSONS & EXERCISES
1. Imagine a relative, friend or event that although long past, has shaped the way you are and what you have become. Facing a partner, attempt to tell the story of this relative, friend or event. Tell your partner the story using metaphoric rather than literal language. Remember to tell the story in almost song-like tones: dwelling on the sounds and words you speak. Allow most words to find the rhythm and tone that makes them song-like. Also remember to let your voice and thoughts do the work (so try to cut hand and facial gestures to a bare minimum). …show more content…
The songdrama usually attempts to deal witheverything in terms of metaphors e.g. instead of telling someone that your great grandfather came from Norway to Australia, you may say: ''My Grandfather is the devourer of all the seas and oceans'' or '' My Grandfather - the Whale of all seasons. The songdramas are always told proudly and intensely, perhaps this is why some European historians and anthropologists have remained sceptical about the knowledge which lies beneath these stories told in this form of narrative. Songdramas are not just an ancient form used for ancient rituals but can be used in a modern context and within historical approaches to address specific stories and ideas from specific areas or places. Often older indigenous languages are kept alive through songdramas because they keep flourishing the stories, rituals and languages of traditions which are …show more content…
Many archeologists and anthropologists believe rituals of performance, storytelling involving music and masks probably date back to about 40,000 years ago in parts of Africa. There is also archeological evidence that around 10,000 years ago, African societies near modern day Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and in places in what is now the Sahara Desert, started to develop microlith technology for hunting and harvesting and as a consequence started to develop more intricate storytelling rituals involving drumming, body decoration and perhaps even masks. Rock art of this period show many representations of performance rituals and a 7,000 year old stone Africa mask has been
ORIGINS
Origins of Drama and Theatre – Indigenous Australian Songdrama
THEATRE STYLE
Indigenous Australian Songdrama – The Great Father Spirits
LESSONS & EXERCISES
1. Imagine a relative, friend or event that although long past, has shaped the way you are and what you have become. Facing a partner, attempt to tell the story of this relative, friend or event. Tell your partner the story using metaphoric rather than literal language. Remember to tell the story in almost song-like tones: dwelling on the sounds and words you speak. Allow most words to find the rhythm and tone that makes them song-like. Also remember to let your voice and thoughts do the work (so try to cut hand and facial gestures to a bare minimum). …show more content…
The songdrama usually attempts to deal witheverything in terms of metaphors e.g. instead of telling someone that your great grandfather came from Norway to Australia, you may say: ''My Grandfather is the devourer of all the seas and oceans'' or '' My Grandfather - the Whale of all seasons. The songdramas are always told proudly and intensely, perhaps this is why some European historians and anthropologists have remained sceptical about the knowledge which lies beneath these stories told in this form of narrative. Songdramas are not just an ancient form used for ancient rituals but can be used in a modern context and within historical approaches to address specific stories and ideas from specific areas or places. Often older indigenous languages are kept alive through songdramas because they keep flourishing the stories, rituals and languages of traditions which are …show more content…
Many archeologists and anthropologists believe rituals of performance, storytelling involving music and masks probably date back to about 40,000 years ago in parts of Africa. There is also archeological evidence that around 10,000 years ago, African societies near modern day Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and in places in what is now the Sahara Desert, started to develop microlith technology for hunting and harvesting and as a consequence started to develop more intricate storytelling rituals involving drumming, body decoration and perhaps even masks. Rock art of this period show many representations of performance rituals and a 7,000 year old stone Africa mask has been