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Clare Morrissey- Theatre of Witness - Week 9

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Once you have read both chapters, analyze how some of the twelve guiding principles outlined in the first chapter you read were evident in the case study described in the chapter you chose to read. What strategies did the artist employ in working with that specific group of people? What questions emerge? Write a blog post with your reflections. 


I read Chapter 9, Stealing the Stars and the Moon. In this chapter, the artist shone a light on a dark and lonely place- Bemowo Prison in Poland. It was there that the artist met two inmates who had a profound effect on her. She came in with an unknowing mind like the steps mentioned as well as a compassionate and open being, bearing witness. One of the men was convicted of murdering his wife, kids, and grandmother but the artist still listened deeply. The other inmate had a long history of theft and the artist helped him use his story to perform it where it began to heal him. She also had the inmate who was performing his piece on the guilt of his theft to talk about his roommate, who did a heinous crime but the artist and his roommate saw him as a different man, one who said he stepped into the evil but still does not know how explaining he is a good man. This brings up one question this chapter asked which stayed with me - What is the difference between mentally ill and evil? Also, the powers of telling your story and feeling heard, the healing powers of human connection.

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