NGO: KATAPHONI ENSEMBLE
Country: GREECE
Participation: Photo
The proposed performance, The Art of Being a Demagogue, draws on the dialectic of Aristophanes’ comedy “The Knights” by Aristophanes, both with the current global political situation and with rebetiko songs with political content. It is an interactive political farce, with elements of theater, music, and documentary. The core of the work is satire and scathing criticism of the passive attitude of citizens towards demagogues. More specifically, the basic materials of the performance will be: a) a video documentary of interviews with citizens (the people) about their political views, b) a transcription of excerpts from Aristophanes’ comedy “The Knights”, c) rebetiko songs with political content, and d) the full integration of the audience into the performance through a final vote at the end. The combination of these four elements creates a multi-sensory participatory political experience that raises timeless questions: Which politicians do we choose and by what criteria? Should we jeopardize democratic principles for the immediate satisfaction of our basic human needs (food, material comfort, rest, etc.)? What is the place of violence in the struggle for a better world?