Question.2452 - In her TED talk "Four American Characters," (Links to an external site.) Anna Deavere Smith shares examples of the "documentary theater" work and process, in four characters from different shows. This is also a shorter example of how all her solo shows are: an introduction to the whole performance, then an introduction to each piece, followed by the piece itself, and so on. She talks to the audience throughout the performance. In no more than one page, write your understanding of the impact that having many characters of different races, genders, backgrounds, etc. being performed in their own words by the same "vessel," in this case, a black woman, does to the larger thematic vision of plays dealing with conflict and the bigger, encompassing idea of an "American character."
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The video had a profound impact on me and the way Anna Deavere Smith enacted each character, replicating their views and feelings that they experienced in their lives, moved me to the core. It was amazing to see the way Deavere Smith effortlessly shifted from one character to another without any stress on her face. The way she effectively got into the skin of the four characters and enacting the emotions and trauma of the people she was talking about gave me goose bumps. (Smith, 2007) Through the act, Deavere Smith depicted the varied issues and problems that the modern day America faces. In the first act, she projected the racial discrimination still prevalent in the country and the subtle way that racism still existed long after the Declaration of Emancipation and the segregation ended. Furthermore, Smith depicted effectively the difference in the tone, body language and style of speaking which suggests the race of the character. (Smith, 2007) The second character of Jenkins showed the story of a woman who was a victim of domestic violence inflicted on her by her partner. The pain and struggle that Jenkins felt were well emoted by Smith through her voice and yet there was no dramatic emotions depicted on her face. The third enactment of a Korean shopkeeper was a dramatic and full of emotions, showing the discrimination done by the American society to those coming from diverse minority culture. (Smith, 2007) Smith effortlessly transformed into the various characters she portrayed and was brilliant in showcasing the difference in their experiences of living in America. While those belonging to the minority race and the fair gender had negative experiences to share, those coming from the mainstream genre also had their own take on the varied social inequality and the difference of culture between the various races. The varied experiences of the four characters portrayed by Smith effectively narrated the various conflicts experienced in the country and the varied viewpoints of the issue from different perspective. (Smith, 2007) References Smith, A. D. (2007). Anna Deavere Smith: Four American characters. Retrieved from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR8SwPmCFd4More Articles From Ethics
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