Drama for Social Change: The “Whisper” Project – [Research Assistantship]

Professor: Kerric (AKA Lisa St. Clair) Harvey

Department: School of Media and Public Affairs

Title: Drama for Social Change:  The “Whisper” Project

Description: Deepening the material already launched by my previous empirical
work adapting traditional “Drama for Conflict Transformation” for use within
a 21st century digital environment, the “Whisper Project” uses a combination
of in-person, live audience theatrical methods and online/digital/Web-based
venues to explore how the performing arts can inform and elevate public
discourse around flammable political issues and events. Specifically, the
project entails producing a purpose-built one act play for use with an
intentional audience (one which is carefully constructed of stakeholders from
different sectors of a conflict situation) and then using social media and
digital platforms generate and collect ethnographic information about the
cultural belief structures that undergird political attitude, and which are
elicited as part of the live performance experience. The play, entitled
“Whisper on a Distant Wind,” is already written, and is an especially timely
production on the eve of another presidential election cycle, as it recounts
the interactions of four modern day “Tea Party” members when they suddenly
find themselves transported back to George Washington’s 18th century Mount
Vernon plantation.  This project extends and enhances “The Interrogation
Project” work which I conducted in 2016, and which followed a similar
procedureisper.”  I successfully presented my findings from “The
Interrogation Project” at a Royal Anthropology Institute/British Museum
conference and hope to do the same thing with  “Whisper.”

Duties: Research and logisticall support during pre-production phase;
assistance with casting, venue procurement, and grant-writing if we take the
project off-campus; working with the professor to assure that all legal
aspects of a project like this are in conformance with University policy as
well as with routine best practices; identifying, securing, and accessing
appropriate and realistic digital and online platforms; helping to design the
specific data collection instruments and conflict resolution materials needed
during the post-production phase; providing technical, operational, and
creative support and outreach as needed; other duties as appropriate and
desirable.  Some assistance with costumes, props,script readings, front of
house, and similar theatrical responsibilities; also some basic video and or
audio recording work (professor will help train if needed.)

Time commitment: 7-9 hours per week (average)

Credit hour option*: 3

Number of openings: 2

Submit Cover Letter/Resume to: kharvey@gwu.edu

*If credit is sought, all registration deadlines and requirements must be
met.  Students selected to be research assistants should contact Brianna
Crayton (bcrayton@gwu.edu) whether they intend to pursue credit or not.