Speaking their truths: 'Berg artists present at Political Arts Festival
All of this political upheaval and disappointment has left Muhlenberg students wondering, “What can I do?” The Student Government Association (SGA) and the Muhlenberg Theatre Association (MTA) came up with a unique way to showcase students’ artwork and give them a forum to vocalize their feelings about what has been happening lately in the world. The Political Arts Festival took place on Friday, Mar. 24, and was a big success.
“The Political Arts Festival is a way to gather creation and art and expression about political issues,” said SGA Treasurer Taylor Johns ‘18 at the event. She partnered with Ashley Malafronte ‘17 to bring the event to life.
“Seeing artists interpreting their world and interpreting their experiences as something that’s political and personal, and then having them bring it to us and say, ‘This is what matters to me,’ in my mind,” said Johns, “that’s what the festival is all about.”
Work that was to be shown during the festival was chosen through an application process, and artists were allowed to either display their visual work or perform their dramatic pieces. After each performance, the actors and writers engaged with the audience in a talk-back reaction to their stories on what they were trying to express, along with what the audience took from it.
“The intention here is really more for the artists than the audience,” Malafronte said, “I know it’s kind of a strange way of thinking about art, but for me, at least, this is more about giving artists an opportunity to show their stuff, and politically-resonant work I think deserves a space on this campus. But for the audience, I hope that [the art] provokes thought and provokes empathy, and an ability to think about political situations on a more human level and on a level besides only the statistics and political rhetoric that we hear. It’s an alternative medium of processing politics.”
The work by Holly Joyce Lehren ‘19, Blue, was a resonant performance piece describing the trauma a young woman experiences after she has been sexually assaulted. Different performers drifted on and off the stage, adding pieces to the developing puzzle of what happened to the main character. The play touches upon the woman’s relationship with her mother, her assaulter, and herself. The message, overall, centers around the issues of reporting sexual assault where the social climate demonstrates a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” fate for the victims.
“It’s dealing with a lot of personal, autobiographical stuff for me, which I think is really important to put onstage,” said Lehren, “It’s also the reason why I’m so glad there’s a political arts festival.”
As a theater and political science double-major, Lehren appreciates the opportunity to combine her two passions in such a cathartic, expressive forum.
“I think theater is an awesome way to catalyze so much cultural, social, and political change, and I think it’s amazing that I get to be part of it and do stuff within that scope.”
Lehren hopes the audience comes away from her performance knowing that nobody is alone when they need help. “You can talk about the issues that you’ve gone through, the struggles that you have, and that people are going to be there for you. If you’re going through things right now, talk to your friends or family, find a support group that you think will work really well for you… [by] whatever means you need, take care of yourself, too.”
The Political Arts Festival was a big hit, and I think it would be extremely worthwhile to have more events like this in the future. Feel free to submit your work if another festival rolls around in the future — the support you’ll get will probably be greater than you ever expected.
The performance pieces featured at the Political Arts Fest were:
Blue written and directed by Holly Joyce Lehren ‘19
The Problem that Has No Name devised and performed by Taylor Hunsberger ‘17
The life before/reconstruction/reconstructing whiteness by playwright Alva Rogers, directed by Anna Ricciuti ‘19
Doctor, There’s a Government in My Uterus by playwright Eric Pfeffinger, directed by Sarah Bedwell ‘17.
The visual pieces on display included:
“Azita Rafaat” by Holly Joyce Lehren ’19
“FUBU” by Sade Ogunjimi ‘18
“Reconstruction” by Thomas Miller ‘20
“Exodus from Womb” by Hannah Meyer ‘19