Exploring Sexual Trauma and Healing in Performance
As an artist, I've always been interested in exploring human emotions through the lens of storytelling. One theme that has fascinated me is sexual trauma and its impact on individuals. In this article, I will examine how playwrights have used their craft to delve into these complex issues, providing audiences with a deep understanding of the struggles people face when dealing with sexual abuse.
Understanding Sexual Trauma
Before diving into the ways playwrights explore sexual trauma and healing, it's important to understand what exactly sexual trauma entails. According to the National Center for PTSD, "sexual assault is any form of unwanted sexual contact that occurs without explicit consent." This can include rape, molestation, exposure, voyeurism, or harassment. The effects of sexual trauma can be profound and long-lasting, including anxiety, depression, self-blame, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can lead to flashbacks, nightmares, and avoidance behaviors.
How Playwrights Use Drama to Explore Sexual Trauma
One way that playwrights have approached the topic of sexual trauma is by incorporating scenes from real life experiences into their work.
Sarah Ruhl's play "Eurydice" centers around a woman who died too soon and was unable to finish processing her experience of rape before she passed away. Throughout the play, she attempts to communicate with her husband from the afterlife while he tries to move on from his loss. By presenting these characters as archetypes, Ruhl creates a universal story that resonates with many individuals who have experienced similar situations in their own lives.
Another approach taken by playwrights is to use metaphorical language to convey difficult topics such as sexual abuse. In "Bug," Tracy Letts explores a relationship between two damaged individuals, one of whom has been sexually abused as a child. The dialogue is often indirect, forcing audiences to read between the lines and understand the subtext behind the characters' actions. This technique allows for subtlety and nuance without being too graphic, making it accessible to wider audiences.
Healing Through Performance
In addition to exploring sexual trauma, some plays also showcase the healing process that takes place following abuse. In "The Lifeboat," Charlotte Jones uses humor and absurdity to highlight how people cope with tragedy. By creating a world where survivors must band together to stay alive, the play shows that even in extreme circumstances, human beings can find ways to heal and move forward. Similarly, Anna Deavere Smith's "Fires in the Mirror" tells the story of an interracial couple who must navigate the challenges of racism and sexual assault in 1980s New York City. Their journey towards understanding and forgiveness provides hope for those struggling with similar issues today.
Playwrights have used drama to provide insight into sexual trauma and its impact on individuals. By using real-life experiences, metaphorical language, and stories of healing, they have helped audiences better understand this complex issue. As we continue to grapple with sexual trauma in our society, I believe that performance art will continue to be a valuable tool for exploration and education.
How do playwrights explore sexual trauma and healing in performance?
Playwrights have used different artistic means to depict and portray the psychological, social, and emotional aftermath of sexual abuse on stage through complex characters, dialogues, plots, themes, symbolism, and imagery. In "The Vagina Monologues," Eve Ensler explores how female protagonists deal with their past experiences of molestation, rape, and incest.