1) Info about the time period you come from- significant events, location, food, culture, style, 'in' things, 'hot topics of duscussion'. Do the Stanislavski BEFORE STORY thing.
The period that Gwakawakaweena came from is in the 1980s-1990s, I will focus on the arts scene as it is pertinent to Gwak’s dream to be an artist.
Fact number 1: The government had introduced policies since the 1990s to foster and manage the art scene. It has spent significant money on the visual art. There are more opportunities, acceptance and support for less traditional and conventional media and strategies like installation, performance or interactive public art, and more recently new-media, film, video, relational aesthetics, textual and conceptual works. Also there are more chances to go global and to see international works with the rapidly increasing biennales and festivals.
Fact number 2: Within the community, art still doesn’t make business sense and maybe it’s not supposed to. Many aspiring artists have baskets full of unfulfilled dreams. Artists tend to be more cautious of boundaries and offending the status quo.
Fact number 3: The media and schools seem more willing to discuss art, but they still don’t know what it is. Squares will be squares and circles are circles but never the twain shall meet.
Fact number 5: The esplanade was built in 1995, fostering more art and artist, making Singapore an arts hub.
THUS! Considering this, it is not surprising that Gwak is motivated to be an artist. She has had the exposure to all this different and daring art forms and finds passion in them. It is a time when there a start to acceptance of the arts, as a career that dictates respect. However, we cannot forget that this is only the beginning of a gradual change, Singapore is still mainly focused on the science and research areas and this is considered the “better” choice for students, especially those in Junior Colleges. It is not surprising then that Gwak faced numerous objections from her parents and teachers to not pursue the arts scene, as they do not see a bright future for her. This challenge to prove herself as an artist has coloured mush of Gwak’s bad experiences and had ultimately led to her demise. ):
2) What role do you play in that society?
In society, I am typically known as the disgraced and even, unwanted artist. In a time of new ideas and change, while some artist have the opportunity to delve deeper into their work, others, who have even more bold ideas or not as superb, are pushed aside. It did not help that the market for arts was small. My character, Gwak, represents the frustration felt by those who are not able to “make it”, who have no voice and no say and who are unfulfilled in the society who do not accept their art.
3) How do the issues you deal with then relate to modern day society TODAY. Does the current society still practise the same segregation (If any)?
Today, it is the new millennia, the 21st century. Naturally, Singapore has come a long way since the 1980s in the arts scene. It is now vibrant and more accepting of newer, bolder, riskier performance and art pieces. We have opportunities to pursue the arts, with special schools such as LaSelle, NAFA and SOTA. However, the same skeptical opinion is kept by the majority in the case of pursuing art as a career, IT IS NOT LUCRATIVE AND THUS, LET US NOT BOTHER. This is particularly sad because of the fact that many young people who have expressed an interest in the arts have to discard it, or merely make it a hobby, to pursue a more “successful” field in science. We, the artist, is the minority and this fact is not going to change anytime soon.
4) What is the irony that will be seen in your character (if any)? How will you show this?
My character’s irony is in the fact that she, after cutting off her own arm, is unable to produce any other art form, even though it is her passion. This can be seen in her futile efforts to paint, using her less dominant hand that creates lousy pictures/paintings- yes, she is NOT AMBIDEXTROUS. Plus, we see her attempting to project her artistic sense in her voice and actions.
Another way that I want to present this irony is that Gwak will be seen as a character who is trying too hard to fit into a role, of the artist and she unknowingly follows the stereotype of “crazy artist”, which is detrimental to society’s and the audiences view of what constitutes being an artist and thus, difficult to change this perception.
Another irony is that Gwak is an artist who wants to be heard and wants her work to be appreciated but, she does not make any move to make sure that her work is presented, instead, she puts on a façade and is someone who quickly judges others to make sure that she is heard, not by her merit at all. Furthermore, she refuses to move on.
5) Go through the script and check to see-
(i) There is a constant type of voice for your character- Eg- Eng E Shen's voice
Yes. It is definitely Gwak’s voice throughout, I wrote the script. =)
(ii) IS your characters realization caused directly/indirectly by Sarah? (It has to be)
Yes. Sarah is the one who drives Gwak past her façade and puts Gwak in her place. She makes Gwak see that the reality that she has created for herself is just an illusion and that she should move on. Sarah tells Gwak that there is more than this non-existence and that she can move on.
Also, Gwak is affected by baby, her innocence and love for life, that the first seeds of doubt comes into her mind, that what she perceives is not as bad as it seems and that she should move on to create something better for herself.
(iii) Do you manage to tackle and unearth the mystery of life your character is dealing with?
Yes. I have decided to move on with my (un)life. I have come to the conclusion that society will only notice me and my work if I put in the effort to showcase it. I should not wallow in self pity!!! I realize that society need artists like me, whether they know it or not and I have to try harder to be heard!
(iv) Check if regret is seen in ALL the scenes you are in (Make sure its not too obviously stated)
Yes to the former, will edit for the latter if need be.
TTFN, GWAKAWAKAWEENA, aka fifi
No comments:
Post a Comment