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W!LD RICE- personae and facades in the Singapore theatrical scene
Gabriel Tan & Ong Juin Khai (4H1)2-12
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DIRECTION AND SCOPE
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Direction of research
• To extract greater literary value with the use of psychoanalytic theory• Interested in the
performance of the concepts of the persona and the self in theatre
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SCOPE
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METHODOLOGY
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Formation of identity• Identity is not monolithic (Winnicott, 1960)– Performance of our thoughts, ideals and
experiences through our appearance, behaviour and speech.
*Applies to both identity of persona and self
Sexuality(La
Cage)
Social stature (Earnes
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Jung’s Persona Theory
1. Persona’s dynamic relationship with the selfa. Draw on elements of the self to
retain “authenticity”b. But portrays a different image of
ourselves, often “contradict[ing] the original sense of self”. (Winnicott, 1960)
2. Function of the personaa. Self will “suffer” if not for the
defence of the persona (Wehr, 1988)
b. Compromise between one’s definition of the self and societal expectations – ideal image (Adler and Hull, 1967)
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Research Questions
With regards to main
characters-
1.Is there a contradiction
between the identity of the
persona and the self?
2.Does the persona fulfil its
purpose of preserving the
self?
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IS THERE A CONTRADICTION BETWEEN THE
IDENTITY OF THE PERSONA AND THE SELF?
1st research question
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• Za Za (the self), identifies as female, is mother of Jonathan, star of gay night club.
• Albin (persona), identifies as male supposed ‘uncle’ of Jonathan
Extroverted, expressive,Gender-confident
Self conscious, shy, awkward
La Cage aux Folles
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Contradiction of sexuality
• Identity is a performance of engagement with sexuality (Witt & Wood, 2010; Wood, Christensen, Hebl, & Rothgerber, 1997)
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Emily of Emerald Hill
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Contradictions between the personae and the self
• In Emily’s case her true self can be taken as the “screaming girl-child” that she once was
Self (child)Childish
Emotionally fragile
Lack of self-worth
Incompetent
Personae (Matriarch)
MatureManipulative
Self-esteem in being matriarch
Capable
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“I learned that a woman is nothing in this world that men have made, except in the role that men demand of her. Your life is meaningless, you have no value, except as you are a wife and mother: then be the very devil of a wife and mother...So that you control them and keep them in the palm of your hand. So that the whole world knows your worth- so that a screaming girl-child, long ago, may be reassured that her life has some significance, that no-one is going to throw her back into the gutter.”
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Contradiction in social stature
• Tension between well-to do aristocrat and young, earnest child • Existence of power relations
within identity (Witt & Wood, 2010; Wood, Christensen, Hebl, & Rothgerber, 1997)
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Contradiction between personae
“Good morning Mr Chai. I would like to order one honey-baked ham for the Chinese New Year. Eleven pounds will be excellent, please deliver it to Emerald Hill.”(Speaking to Cold Storage staff)
“Hei, Botak! What are you doing ah? What kind of fish you sent to me yesterday? All rotten ones lah! …You don’t know ah, how can you not know – all right. You give me good ones today. If not all right I bring back I throw at your head…”
(Speaking to fishmonger)
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Categorizes her relationships
Posh and refined mask for those she considers to be of a higher class
Dropping of formalities when speaking to friends/acquaintances, treats them casuallySets herself up as a loving
mother and caring wife, treats family with sugar-coated kindness
Can be a dominating matriarch- ordering servants around
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Cross-dressing
• Colour scheme: pink and purple,
• Feminine beauty: Jewels, necklaces and bracelets.
• Tremendous skin exposure of the arms and the legs racy and ‘bear it all’ appearance
• Feathers – flamboyance,
• It’s midnight, yet he’s wearing sunglasses, a hat, a scarf, and carries an umbrella. What is he hiding from?
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Manipulation of colours and messages
•Different colours carry different messages, inciting different emotions and reactions (Lamancusa, 2003)• Colours are a performance of identity (Lamancusa, 2003).
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Usage of cross-dressing in Emily
• Draws out notion that Emily is never showing her true self • Gender is the most fundamental building block of a person’s identity- and in this case it is not consistent with the character’s gender
• Emily played by a man - draws out the more masculine aspects of Emily’s character - role as the head of the family • “a woman is nothing in this world that men have made”
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Stage Direction in Emily of Emerald Hill
“Emily ‘manjas’ like a cajoling, wilful little girl.”
“She rises gracefully, steps back and watches with side-long satisfaction.”
“Emily takes her place beside Kheong in the state chair, with a girlish giggle.”
“She turns with a little-girl pout and shake of head to amused father-in-law.”
“Hiding triumph, Emily accepts the homage of the brother and sister-in-law.”
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DOES THE PERSONA PREVENT THE ANNIHILATION OF THE SELF?
2nd research question
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Societal judgement
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Societal expectations are annihilated, not Za Za
• However, the self is still preserved. • Everyone rallies round Za Za
and calls Dr Tan out for conservatism and bigotry• Struggle between societal
expectations and Za Za, society ‘breaks down’. • Is a persona really necessary?
Will the self be annihilated without a persona?
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Albin is obsolete
• Reverts to being Jonathan’s ‘mother’ – ie the self, Za Za • “Za Za is
here!”
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‘I am what I am…’
‘It's my world that I want to take a little pride in
My world and it's not a place I have to hide in’
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Ironically, Emily’s personae destroys her self
• Her true self is largely concealed throughout the production
• Jungian persona ‘ease of the persona’, should not overwhelm the original sense of self. (Hopcke, 1989)
• However, Emily finds greater comfort in switching between her many personae, rather than dwelling in the self. In that sense, the self has given way to her many personae.
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Unlike Za Za, Emily has multiple
personae
True
self
Matron
Friend
Aristocrat
Mother/Wife
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Stage Direction in Emily of Emerald Hill
“With overwhelming graciousness” “With great cordiality” “Cordial and sedate to male acquaintance” “With real warmth” “With fake warmth, guard well up” “She flies to the door, she ‘manjas’”
Showcases ability to swap between entirely different tones for different people within the same social setting
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Persona preventing annihilation of the self
• In Emily’s case, her personae are not preventing the annihilation of the self• Instead, they are facilitating the
destruction of the self• Her many personae have drowned
any sense of self, ironically causing her self to fade away
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Necessity of the persona
• It is necessary for Emily to create a persona
• Her self is fragile, and a persona is necessary to protect it
• However, Emily goes overboard and creates personae in excess
• It is only necessary to have one persona to protect the self- Emily instead creates many, causing the annihilation of the self
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WHAT CAN WE SAY ABOUT THESE PERSONAE?
In conclusion….
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Contradiction between persona
and the self presentLa Cage aux Folles Emily of Emerald Hill
Experience with sexuality
Power relations within the household
CROSS DRESSING AND THE MANIPULATION OF COLOUR
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Persona does not defend the self
La Cage aux Folles Emily of Emerald Hill
Obsolete as society, as captured by Dr Tan, is forced to give way
Personae lead to the annihilation of the self as its use increases in frequency and intensity
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Concluding statement
• The nature of these personae and its relation to the self is normal• However, the function of these personae has evolved.
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Significance of research
• Use of psychoanalytic theory–Humanize these characters, making them more relatable–Point of reference
• Character-centric analysis–As compared to thematic analysis–Brings closer attention to the inner turmoil and struggles of characters
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Significance of research
• Complements the artistic motivations behind these productions–Deliberately portray the struggle between persona and the self–‘La Cage aux Folles’ and ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ are plays “about facades where everybody is pretending to be something than what they truly are”. To study the idea of personae in these plays is thus “very interesting”
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THANK YOU
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References• Adler, G., & Hull, R. (1967). Two Essays on
Analytical Psychology. The Collected Works of C. G. Jung (). United Kingdom : Routledge & Kegan Paul.
• Bracphysical activities. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 26(4), 403-420.e-Govan, J. (2002). Looking at bodywork: women and three
• Demaris S. Wehr, Jung and Feminism (London 1988), page 57.
• D. W. Winnicott, "Ego distortion in terms of true and false self," in The Maturational Process and the Facilitating Environment: Studies in the Theory of Emotional Development. New York: International UP Inc., 1965, pp. 140-152.
• Innes, C. D. I. (1972). Erwin piscator's political theatre: The development of modern german drama.
• Jung, C. G. J. (1989). R. Hopcke (Ed.), A guided tour of the collected works of C.G. Jung (p. 88).
• Merton, R. K. M. (1949). Social theory and social structure.
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References
• Shackelford, S., Wood, W., & Worchel, S. (1996). Behavioral styles and the influence of women in mixed-sex groups. Social Psychology Quarterly, 59, 284-293.
• Witt, M. G., & Wood, W. (2010). Self-regulation of gendered behaviour in everyday life. Sex Roles, 62, 635-646.
• Wood, W., Christensen, P. N., Hebl, M. R., & Rothgerber, H. (1997). Sex-typed norms, affect, and the self. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 523-535.
• Wood, W., & Eagly, A. H. (2002). A cross-cultural analysis of the behaviour of women and men: Implications for the origin of sex differences. Psychological Bulletin, 128, 699-727.
• Lamancusa, K. (2003, January 1). Emotion Reactions to Colour. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
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Why these productions?
‘Localized’‘Relatable’
Glen Goei – Director at W!ld Rice
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Presence of personae and facades-
‘play about facades where everybody is pretending to be something than what they truly are, the idea of facades and masks is very interesting.’ –Ivan Heng in an interview
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Use of cross-dressing
• Za Za is the true self. Albin is the persona 1. Jungian persona – persona was
developed (based on ‘other people's expectations’). (Hopcke, 1989)
o As a male, Albin is expected to act masculinely. However, Za Za identifies as a female. The character is forced to conceal Za Za, which falls short of the norms of behaviour for men, and put on a front- Albin.
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• Albin is constantly in the hiding, fearful of exposure
• Dresses extremely conservatively - All black appearance (he looks like a fugitive, no?)
• It’s midnight, yet he’s wearing sunglasses, a hat, a scarf, and carries an umbrella. What is he hiding from?
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WHAT THEATRICAL TECHNIQUES AND PLOT DEVICES ARE EMPLOYED TO CAPTURE THE PERSONAE OF CHARACTERS?
2nd research question
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1. USE OF CROSS-DRESSING
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1. USE OF CROSS-DRESSING
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2. STAGE DIRECTIONS
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vs
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La Cage aux Folles