Falling into Positivity

[Paul Levy]

Should improv dare to be more miserable?

Has it attracted to it a herd of positivity-addicts who have taken it upon themselves to use improv to cheer up the world (and to find affirmation for their own fear of the darker aspects of reality)?

Does this "norming" of the positive create an artificial need for improv to always be "fun" and does this create a ball and chain for the use of improv to really explore the more sombre and serious issues that individuals, communities and even societies face?

My recent experiences of applied improv sessions and also my witness of video footage lead me to reflect on the observation that there is a peer group pressure to be "nice", to suspend criticism of anything that attempt to be "Nice" or "Fun", and to feel there is a loss of an opportunity - the opportunity to allow improv sessions to go wrong, to fall into uncertainty, to deal with pain and fear, to engage in healing that may be worse before it gets better.