Watching the movie "The Roof is On the Fire" was quite challenging to me for several reasons. First of all, the stories are real, there is no script, pain is real, curiosity from the observers is potentially real (or not), KIDS ARE IN THE CARS. Besides the teenager's stories, who represent one part of the problems in our society, we are exposed to the violence of gaze. Bell Hooks, in her book "The Oppositional Gaze" - Black female spectators said something very important that can be related to this movie and can articulate better, my challenge during watching the movie: The "gaze" has always been political in my life. Imagine the terror felt by the child who has come to understand through repeated punishments that one's gaze can be dangerous. The children who have learned so well to look the other way when necessary. Yet, when punished, the child is told by parents, "Look at me when I talk to you." Only, the child is afraid to look. afraid to look, but fascinated by the gaze. There is power in looking. .... The politics of slavery, of racialized power relations, were such that the slaves were denied their right to gaze. According to that, I felt a bit uncomfortable watching young adults, being locked in the metal box/car, sharing their problems. The audience had a right to choose where to go and what and how to listen. They had right to gaze to those young brave performers but (interesting thing) they were not allowed to talk back to the performers. The Roof was on the fire because those young hearts are in the fire every single day.
1) CONTEXT:
"The Oakland Project" (1999-20010).
The major concern of this project was the conflict with the police and the violence in the city which increased during the years in Oakland (even a week before an opening night). Fighting the stereotypes in the society. They needed a dialogue between police and youth.
2)CONTENT:
220 public school students, were chosen to try to target the problems and through weekly and monthly meetings to find the solution. Many different teachers were included in the project in order to find the solution that potentially can change somebodies future. People who are marginalized by the media gave the opportunity to show another side of the coin and share what bothers them, what they dream about and hope for. The topics were: Racism, violence, sexuality, family, otherness, drug, education, future.
3)FORM:
Public performance in the car: Students talk - society listen. Workshops/advanced training program for the teacher and specific way of working with the students. The intention was youth development and arts education.
4)STAKEHOLDERS:
220 public school students for the final performance and 40 students were part of the monthly program in youth development. Lacy and Chris Johnson worked in the Oakland Technical high school. the students were from the diverce group, the majority were African American students.
5) AUDIENCE:
The project was conceived to the Oakland residents, and I believe for the performer's parents and for the future parents as well. No1 for the people who are responsible for the future of this country, to the president ( specifically when they brought up media to be involved).
6) ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES:
Through the careful listening (in silence) the audience was invited to have picked the car and listen to the dialogue in the car. Students "ignore" the audience trying to have an open dialogue as possible between each other. The topics were on the paper and they picked what they will discuss. The audience has an interesting role as a "passive" listener. Their mouth was shut! The youth was on the national news.
7)GOAL:
Bringing awareness about youth with no bright future. Offering an opportunity for the kids to find the way if they really want ( I think about those 40 chosen kids for the workshop)- But my question is what is with the rest of them? Show the USA what is the reality in Oakland and challenge the stereotypical thoughts about youth in Oakland.
8)VALUES:
Not sure that I know how to answer this question.
But just for a moment the broadcast share students stories and maybe open up the dialogue among other people who are willing to help these marvelous human beings who just need equal opportunity.
9)RESOURCES:
Public school, news, students, and teachers.
Cars, rooftop, media...
10)OUTCOMES:
The result of this project is very unpredictable but for sure those students learned something about themself, they were listened (some of them for the first time in their lifes) and teachers have more tools and responsability to shape future in Oakland.
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