The successful periodical JALTA (Neofelis Verlag, Berlin) creates a space where “Jewish and non-Jewish voices alike can be make themselves heard. The authors emphasize overlooked positions and interrelate them. They articulate and develop critical positions and reflect on current discussions. Their debates challenge majority interpretations patterns in society, echo the diversity of our post-migrational society and present options for building alliances.” (Jalta website)
Sivan Ben Yishai’s theater play YOUR VERY OWN DOUBLE CRISIS CLUB in my German translation (abridged) has been published in the journal’s current issue.
Hardened Positions in US theater
Theatermakers in the profoundly disparate US society struggle to be part of the societal narrative. Positions of power are challenged and defended, with attributions being associated less with economic categories but with cultural identities. The increasingly hardened identitary (essentialized) positions particularly in the academic context of theater, counteracting the often bitter and ideological fight against social and political inequalities, show how ambiguous such strategies can turn out.
In an article in the July issue of Theater heute, I try to explain these developments presenting a few sample productions.