Course litterature

[Kerstin Gauffin]

Anyone who would like to recommend course litterature for "Multicultural Improv" (except for Keith Johnstone's books? ) New course at Swedish university. Thanks in advance!
Kerstin Gauffin

[Kerstin Gauffin]

Hi! Thank you so much! This is new to me and after having read (and used) Free Play in one course I will certainly look into this suggestion as well! Great! Thanks again!
Kerstin

[Kerstin Gauffin]

Yes of course! Thank you so much for your suggestion!
Kind regards
Kerstin Gauffin

[Anne Pensalfini]

How about Augusto Boal's "Games for Actors and Non-actors?"

:) Anne

[Kerstin Gauffin]

Hi Sven! Thank you so much for your mail! I am going to check it out - today I have a guest here (Tomi Välimaa) and we are creating this Multicultural Improv course to start already in a month or so. And next week we are going to New York with our presentation from Trondheim (slightly renewed of course) which is amazing! Are you going to chicago? I soooo want to but I am not sure yet if I can do that! Hope to see you soon and by the way - have you heard if the Improv Jazz guys are going to chicago? Hugs!
Kerstin Gauffin

[Sven Veine]

Hi Kerstin! Wow, NYC! I'm so happy for you! Yes, I'm going to Chicago. I'm not sure if Bjørn and John Pål are coming, but I hope so. My greetings to Tomi - enjoy NYC! :-) Hugs, Sven

[Sven Veine]

Hi Kerstin!

I find that this perspective is sometimes better covered in impro litterature drawn from jazz improvisation. I like to recommend (at least for a check out) The Other Side of Nowhere. This is what is written on the backcover of this book: "A breakthrough book in the emergent fields of improvisation and cultural theory, The Other Side of Nowhere conveys the spirit and energy of an experimental celebration. The volume is divided into four sections: writing of musicians about improvisation; examinations of inter-and cross-cultural dialogue; discussions of social practice and identity; and essays about collaborative dissonance (...) Music is treated not merely as an artistic phenomen, but as a social force with the power to effect substancial change among people of marginalized races, genders, sexualities, and ethnicities.

But also when I come to think about it, Viola Spolin started out her work as a teacher and drama supervisor on the Chicago Works Progress Administration (WPA) Recreational Project developing a 'non-verbal, non psychological approach' to help train students to use drama in community work. Part of this was to work with non-English-speaking immigrants and their children. Viola Spolin was inspired to do this work by her teacher Neva Boyd, who advocated Progressive Education championed by John Dewey and Maria Montessori and saw the validity of using children games in teaching communication and social skills. My point here is that there should be more books on this drawn from the theatre perspective. :-)

[Daniel Knutson-Bradac]

Hi Kerstin:

These would be my picks:

Free Play is a wonderful book about the creative process in all art. It is written from a musicians point of view, but is valid for all improvisers. Free Play is an inspiring read. You may also want to check out the Free Play Productions Site.

Theatre of the Oppressed by Augusto Boal

And Truth in Comedy by Charna Halpern and Del close

Cheers

=Daniel

[Kerstin Gauffin]

Thank you Daniel! Sooo wonderful to hear your voice after a long time! I know that you are or have been up in Calgary with the LooseMoose gang! Hope you have/have had a marvellous time with those excellent guys! Big HUGS!!!
Kerstin