Theatre Symposium, Volume 29: Theatre and Race

The murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police Department officers sparked a movement for racial justice, leading to an increased focus on the role of systematic racism in academic institutions. Theatre Symposium's theme of "Theatre and Race" was announced in 2019, but the composition and editing of the issue essays were undertaken in 2020, in the transformed cultural and professional landscape of 2020. The twelve essays in this issue represent a wide range of scholarly responses to the theme, demonstrating how profoundly theatre practices have been shaped by racial discourses and their material manifestations.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 184 pages
Publication date: 05 April 2022
Publisher: The University of Alabama Press

A few weeks before the submission deadline for this volume of Theatre Symposium, the tragic murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police Department officers ignited a nationwide movement for racial justice that resonated across all levels of US society. At predominantly and historically white academic institutions, including Theatre Symposium and its parent organization, the Southeastern Theatre Conference, leaders were forced, perhaps for the first time, to confront the role of systematic racism in the foundation and perpetuation of their organizations. While the theme of "Theatre and Race" was announced in the closing days of 2019, the composition and editing of the issue's essays were undertaken entirely within the transformed cultural and professional landscape of 2020. Throughout its twenty-nine years of publication, Theatre Symposium's pages have featured numerous excellent essays that have deployed theories of race as an analytical framework, and (less frequently) treated BIPOC-centered art and artists as subjects. The intent of the current editors in conceiving this issue was to center such subjects and theorizations, a goal that has since gained widespread recognition for its urgency.

Taken together, these twelve essays represent a diverse range of scholarly responses to the theme of "theatre and race." The sheer volume of commentary on the topic, coming from so many different perspectives, serves as a testament to the profound impact that theatre practices have had, and continue to have, on racial discourses and their material manifestations.

In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, Theatre Symposium and its parent organization, the Southeastern Theatre Conference, found themselves at a crossroads. The events of that summer sparked a nationwide movement for racial justice, challenging the institutions to reckon with their role in perpetuating systemic racism. At predominantly white academic institutions, including Theatre Symposium, leaders were compelled to address the issue head.

The theme of "Theatre and Race" had been announced in 2019, but the composition and editing of the issue's essays took place
place entirely in the context of the transformed cultural and professional landscape of 2020. The editors aimed to center the subject matter and theorizations of BIPOC-centered art and artists, recognizing the urgency of addressing these issues in the wake of the global pandemic and social unrest.

The twelve essays included in this volume represent a wide range of scholarly responses to the theme. They explore the historical and contemporary intersections of race, theatre, and performance, examining how theatre practices have been shaped by racial discourses and their material manifestations. The essays address topics such as the representation of race and ethnicity on stage, the politics of casting and representation, the impact of colonialism and imperialism on theatre practices, and the role.

One of the key themes that emerges from the essays is the need for more inclusive and diverse theatre practices. The authors argue that theatre has a responsibility to challenge dominant narratives and promote representation and visibility for marginalized communities. They advocate for the use of diverse casting practices, the incorporation of diverse perspectives and experiences into theatre curricula.

Another theme is the importance of intersectionality in understanding the experiences of BIPOC-centered art and artists. The authors argue that race, gender, sexuality, ability, and other forms of identity intersect to shape the experiences of individuals and communities. They highlight the need for theatre practices to be intersectional, recognizing the ways in which different forms of oppression and discrimination intersect to create unique experiences and challenges.

The essays also address the challenges faced by BIPOC-centered art and artists in the context of the pandemic and social unrest. The authors note that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities and highlighted the need for more support and resources for artists and performers from marginalized communities. They advocate for the creation of more inclusive and equitable spaces for the production and dissemination of BIPOC-centered art.

The editors of Theatre Symposium hope that this issue will contribute to the ongoing conversation about the role of theatre in promoting racial justice and social change. They hope that it will inspire theatre practitioners and scholars to continue to explore the intersections of race, theatre, and performance, and to work towards creating more inclusive and diverse spaces for the production and dissemination of BIPOC-centered art.

In conclusion, the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police Department officers sparked a movement for racial justice that reverberated at every level of US society. At predominantly and historically white academic institutions, including Theatre Symposium and its parent organization, the Southeastern Theatre Conference, leaders were compelled to account for the role of systematic racism in the foundation and perpetuation of their organizations. The theme of "Theatre and Race" was announced in the closing days of 2019, but the composition and editing of the issue's essays were undertaken entirely within the transformed cultural and professional landscape of 2020. The twelve essays included in this volume represent a diverse range of scholarly responses to the theme, exploring the historical and contemporary intersections of race, theatre, and performance. They advocate for more inclusive and diverse theatre practices, the incorporation of diverse perspectives and experiences into theatre, and the recognition of the importance of intersectionality in understanding the experiences of BIPOC-centered art and artists. The editors hope that this issue will contribute to the ongoing conversation about the role of theatre in promoting racial justice and social change.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780817370169