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Their practice was the art of voice and understanding the anatomy of voices. I think his practices would be very helpful for any spoken word pieces I would create in the future. During Jenru's classes, he would helped us warm up our voices, each us the importance of keeping the throat warm and how powerful our voices can be. He also taught us the importance of stretching out our bodies and keeping them warmed up. I believe this class was helpful but not a fun class, I feel like this class would be more impactful if he was teaching us before solo performance or during solo performance research. I think that his classes would've helped me finalise my spoken word piece and helped with confidence, since I'm not a fan of my voice. I personally would only keep Jenru and use his practices more during the devising and before a performance.

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Their practice was the art of making a mess. In my research, I watched Baker use items from her home to tell her story on her daily life as a housewife. It was very disturbing to watch as it was a common norm to keep yourself clean and prevent making messes in general. When devising a performance based on Baker, the children's song 'harvest festival' kept playing in my head and reminded me of my childhood where it was normal for children to make a mess. I also decided to add a modern twist to it as I decided to make a meal based on inedible items I had in my room. During my performance, I used the items I brought and thought it was best to create a somewhat silent performance that was more on the chaotic side. It was a fun performance but I came to the conclusion that it wasn't the type of performance I would like to continue in my future. I think it was nice to have the element of nostalgia in my piece, which I would like to add to my final performance, but I don't think I would be very comfortable using my body to make a mess.

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Their practice was the art of stand up comedy. I think this was my favourite practitioner by far. In her class we learnt about how comedians write their jokes, how to practice it and how to perform it to the best of their abilities. One tip Jasmeen gave us was to 'try not to be funny when doing comedy', this was a bit of a challenge for me as it really opened my eyes to see which of my jokes were and weren't funny. I personally don't think I'm cut out for stand up comedy but the experience was extremely fun. I think that during my final performance I will try and add the element of comedy into my performance and instead of poetry, I will try a performance somewhat similar to comedians such as Katt Williams, Trevor Noah and Sindhu Vee. And I will do more research on trying to apply modern political issues into my performance to raise awareness. I'm not sure which issues I will raise as of yet.

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Their practice was the theatre of the oppressed. During his class, Tony gave us the history and importance of theatre, the political use of theatre and how the people have lots of power collectively. This then led us to a marching game where the class was split up into two and had to fight using their chance but how most people wont take the risk of change unless it benefited them. Tony also helped us understand the power in our voices but using a theatre format. He would make us go up on stage and allow the audience to advise the actor performance to help with each scenario. I think that this class was really helpful in giving me a more visual understanding on what Agusto Boal practice was and how to implement politics into my performance. I think I will definitely use his teachings if I were to create a play but I wouldn't use it as much if it were a solo performance. I think it would also be a great tool to use if I were to be teaching children or teenagers 'rights and wrongs', without forcing them. I think its a great way to spark up conversation and debate.

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Their practice was the art of movement. I think that this would be my least favourite classes. In this class, Vanio would teach us about the anatomy of the human body, how it works and how it can be used to create art. With each sessions starting up with a yoga session to stretch out the body and help us understand how each and very part of the body is important. During a session, I learnt about the importance of the tail bone and pelvis, how to isolate those bones and how to create a movement piece based on that. I don't personally think I would use any of Vanio's teachings in my future practices as I am not a movement based artist but it helped me understand that I prefer dancing with music and that music helps me use my body in a creative way. I also think that if I were to use Vanio's teachings into my performance then I would use it during a spoken word piece that was telling a story and I would use sounds of breath to take the audience on a journey with me.

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Their practice was the art of confidence. Stacy was a character that would use voices and movement to create a comedic performance. Stacy taught us how to use breath to create emotions i.g creating fear through voice and using movement in a more cartoon way for a comedic effect. During the performance, I picked the pen and had to create a short piece based on my relationship with my friend using noises. I chose to create a performance based on my fear with the pen, which later became curiosity and finally became acceptance. It was really interesting to create improvised scene since I'm so used to devising a piece with words, I found this to be a challenge. I found that taking a random item around the room was more of a challenge as I don't think I was able to create a piece with the items I chose, I think if I had more time to think and more confidence it would be more structured. I think if I had Stacy again, I will try to step out of my comfort zone more and be more expressive with my voice and movement. I don't think I would use Stacy's practices in my final performance, I think it would create a very interesting piece but it would be too much of a challenge for me since I don't have a lot of confidence. But if I had confidence, I would use Stacy's practices to create a comedy piece on the every day boring life of an adult, I think it would be something interesting to both watch and create.

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Their practice was storytelling using poetry and politics. Livia was the most inspiring practitioner as she was able to create a beautiful story using rhyme and rhythm, keeping everyone hooked on the words that smoothly came out of her mouth. I think she was the one who inspired me most in terms of my solo performance poem. I think that was the most powerful piece I've ever written but also the most impact. During the show and tell, I wrote a piece about a little girl and it helped me realise what I wanted to write for my final performance. Livia helped me understand that I want to write more impact and powerful poetry and then implement my own creative elements into it. I want my base to be poetry that tells a story but not only through words but also through music and art, and this all helped me practice for my solo performance but ultimately gave me ideas for my final performance. I knew that with Livia's guidance I could create a piece that beautiful.

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What is this?

What did you do?

What will you do to take this into your future practice?

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Spoken word piece

Choices — V Sutherland

If I had to pick between the man or the bear,

I would pick the bear.

The bear doesn’t stick around after drinks,

Or mingles in the back with violent intentions,

After my rejection that hurt its fragile ego.

It doesn’t place a drink on my table,

Telling me it’s just ‘a drink for a pretty birdy’

And wait for the moment my eyes become droopy,

So it can escort me out of bar,

Hustle me into its car,

And drive me to its place.

It doesn’t cover my mouth,

Saying ‘shh, you’ll feel better soon’,

Before taking off my clothes,

And making experience the worst day for the rest of my life.

BUT ITS NOT ALL BEARS.

The bear doesn’t yell at me from across the platform at train stations,

Jumping between the tracks for a name, a number, an address.

And it doesn’t push me in the tracks,

As I scream ‘someone please help me’,

While my life flashes before my eyes,

And I think about all the things I could’ve said,

All the scenarios I could have faced,

As the adrenaline rushes through me veins,

I don’t want to die just yet!

BUT ITS NOT ALL BEARS!

The bear doesn’t catcall me on the streets,

Degrading my value as a women,

By saying ‘I wasn’t even good for it anyways’,

Placing a label on my already stereotyped existence,

Nitpicking at my clothes, my hair, my skin, my waist, my tone,

Why can’t you leave me the fuck alone?

I’m just trying to get home,

To my bed, where I feel more comfortable in my humble abode,

Where I know I will feel safe—

Feel safe—

She was 3 when she was told to cover up by her mum,

The weird uncle in down hall, covered in his own cum.

She was 5 when she was told to pull down her dress,

You don’t want any strangers wanting to caress.

She was 19 when she was told ‘don’t talk to strangers,

You never know whose they are behind closed doors.

She was 13 when she was told close your legs, sit up straight,

You’re an older sister, show some example to your younger siblings.

She was 16 when she was told to cover up,

Why do you always have to show skin?

You want to go into prostitution?

She was 18 when she was told to ‘she was asking for it!’

That’s what you get, when you go out looking like a whore.

BUT ITS NOT ALL BEARS

I’m tired of being in a society that continues to let me down.

Tying me to the ground, taking me rights and slaving my life away

I’m tired of being in a world that values privileges over principles

Lies over truth

I’m tired of trying but never being good enough to be part of the standard

I am not a slave

I am not a slave to the system,

I am not a slave to this country

We are not slaves

I’m not here to be valued

My body is not here to be valued by you

My hair is not here to be valued by you

My heart is not here to be valued by you

We are not beings to be valued based on our gender

BUT ITS NOT ALL BEARS

She was late for class and so she decided to ask the police for help,

She was small, black and mostly importantly— a woman.

She was meant to go to school,

Meant to finish off her education,

But she found herself trapped in a police car in a construction sight

And no matter how much she fought back

And she was raped by both officers.

BUT ITS NOT ALL BEARS

She was on a date with a man from a dating app,

She never told her parents who’s he was meeting,

She was supposed to go home that night,

The police found her leg in park miles.

BUT ITS NOT ALL BEARS

She was on her way home from school,

She was only 8 years old,

She was supposed to be tucked into bed talking about how her day went,

She didn’t even know of the danger around her,

She found in the bathroom with permanent injuries to her genitals and anus,

She now has artificial body parts and disabilities

BUT ITS NOT ALL BEARS

He was just on a night out,

He just wanted a drink, have a chat and go home,

He began talking to a good-looking guy,

And he left without even knowing,

This good-looking guy had drugged him with sleeping pills,

And did what ever he wanted to him.

BUT ITS NOT ALL BEARS

It may not be all of you… but it is most of you.

These are only a few of the most famous stories,

But not every story is spoken.

The stories of the Congolese women being raped,

A mother whose family was stripped from her whilst men took advantage of her body,

The stories of the Palestinian women being taken as hostages,

Another mother whose family was forced to watch her body being mutated,

If they turned their heads,

They would die.

While the small voices of those whose mouths have been shut,

By the fear of their abusers,

Trapped in slow motion as their dreams that turn into nightmares

And those nightmares,

That turn into reality

You ask us the question on whether you would pick the MAN or the BEAR?

I would pick the fucking bear.

Because it’s my choice,

I have the right to my choice,

My voice is loud, proud and beautiful.

And you won’t take that from me.

I am only standing here thanks to the people in my life,

They give me the strength to move on,

And I hope this gives you the strength too.

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Rhyme

Imagery

Not all bears

Leave me the fuck alone

Feeling words feeling safe

Talking about without saying men

Story being told

Standing up, being stood up

Empowerment

Transformation

What to think about

Where’s opposites

Light against dark

Opportunity for differences

Pace and breathe

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What are you going to do to take this into the future?

I think this performance could've been a lot better. I think the poem was the star of the performance but I'm not very proud of the art. I think it really helped me understand that i prefer story-telling and poetry rather using art and animation to create a performance even though I would certainly like to come to that conclusion. I think that there are definetely elements to improve and if i were to performance this piece again, i would take up more of the space and implement something that would make my body more expressive. I think that I would also add more of Livia Kojo Alour into my piece and maybe another spoken word artist to fuel my inspiration and help create the most powerful piece. I would also add lighting to set the mood and tone of my piece whilst also adding something with movement. I'm not sure of yet which I would do but this performance has helped me grow and helped me see which elements of my other practitioners I could add.

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WHAT IS THIS CAMPAIGN?

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO TAKE THIS INTO THE FUTURE?

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Their practices was the art of photography and the art of costume. Crista was a very interesting character. I think their artwork was very nostaligic fun and entertaining, very helpful if you were working on a piece either story based on yourself or fantastical. I think the photographic part of the class was interesting as I already had some experience behind the camera but not on the camera and it inspired me to learn more about lighting and mood. Crista's class was very educational and fun, watching all the photos at the end of the class created pride and it was nice seeing all of my work being on display. I think that i would use Crista's practice during a spoken word piece, telling both my words and the photos create a mood during the story. I'm not sure of the practionner who helped with costume, but I think her sessions was also very educational but not my fortie. I believe her classed helped out with creating a theme for a picture or a performance. Using her class, I was able to create a political character who was based on the campagin 'Women in Black' and allowed me to add colours such as the rainbow colours but also the lesbian flag colours to represent both me and my rights. It played a part in helping the costume become more of a political stand up, with both womens rights included but enabling the fact that clothing doesn't have a gender. I also helped me understand that I prefer being behind the camera or supporting the camera rather than being infront or the face.

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CAMPAIGN ON WOMENS RIGHTS AND VAGINAL EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS

What are you going to do to take this into your future practice?