A theatrical perspective inside of the U.S. Armed Force’s silent voice dealing with military homeless veterans
Disciplines
Other Theatre and Performance Studies
Abstract (300 words maximum)
As of 2017, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness there are currently over 40,000 homeless military veterans in the United States. The governmental abuse of military veterans often contributes to the growing homelessness population in the veterans’ community. Via a compare and contrast analysis Homeless Military Veterans: A Theatrical Perspective from the Inside of the Armed Forces’ looks at the similarities between military veteran’s treatment at the turn of the 18th century and the 21st century in order to reveal a long, systematic, and sustaining legacy of abuse at the hands of the government. Focusing on PTSD, depression, financial issues, low self-esteem, and lack of motivation combined with a close analysis of George Buchner’s theatrical play Woyzeck, my project highlights how the government’s abuse of military veterans leads to homelessness. Performance studies scholar, Diana Taylor, reminds us that, “theatre […] can change the ways in which people envision social conflict; it can help spectators identify issues that had not seemed apparent before; it can energize populations around and so on.” Using theatre as one of my research tools to reach a wide variety of audiences gives voice to the abusive situations homeless veterans face when dealing with the governmental programs that are designed to assist in making the military veterans life better. This project is designed to make audiences reflect on how homeless veterans are treated by the government, which will enhance their participation in diminishing the rate of homeless veterans throughout the United States.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
COTA - Theatre and Performance Studies
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Angela Faarr Shiller
A theatrical perspective inside of the U.S. Armed Force’s silent voice dealing with military homeless veterans
As of 2017, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness there are currently over 40,000 homeless military veterans in the United States. The governmental abuse of military veterans often contributes to the growing homelessness population in the veterans’ community. Via a compare and contrast analysis Homeless Military Veterans: A Theatrical Perspective from the Inside of the Armed Forces’ looks at the similarities between military veteran’s treatment at the turn of the 18th century and the 21st century in order to reveal a long, systematic, and sustaining legacy of abuse at the hands of the government. Focusing on PTSD, depression, financial issues, low self-esteem, and lack of motivation combined with a close analysis of George Buchner’s theatrical play Woyzeck, my project highlights how the government’s abuse of military veterans leads to homelessness. Performance studies scholar, Diana Taylor, reminds us that, “theatre […] can change the ways in which people envision social conflict; it can help spectators identify issues that had not seemed apparent before; it can energize populations around and so on.” Using theatre as one of my research tools to reach a wide variety of audiences gives voice to the abusive situations homeless veterans face when dealing with the governmental programs that are designed to assist in making the military veterans life better. This project is designed to make audiences reflect on how homeless veterans are treated by the government, which will enhance their participation in diminishing the rate of homeless veterans throughout the United States.