My third performance must concentrate the idea of limitations and privilege. I have decided to focus on how I am not privileged due to my size and lack of thinness. The limitation that was assigned to me is to have my mouth covered for 90% of the performance. Therefore, my performance will be focusing on rewarding and admonishing people who can fit in a large shirt, a extra small shirt, and a pillow case. Those who can fit and pass my judgement, gets a gold star and a cookie and are allowed to talk. Those who do not pass my judgement will not able to talk. I will be discussing my concepts for this performance in this paper.
The audience set up will be half of the room in groups of three. I will give each of these groups one article of “clothing” to try on and once they get approval from me, they will be able to converse normally on the other side of the room. This set up will not only have a sound barrier between the “approved” and “rejected” side but people will be able to feel rejection of not being able to fit in (literally through the use of clothes) and metaphorically (with the “cool” group). When it comes to lighting, I plan on having two very different lightening set ups for the two different sides of the room.
The first half of the room will have normal classroom lighting with nothing particularly special. The second half of the class will be lit in multicolored spotlights and general happy lightening. It’s important to the performance that there is a clear divide between the two groups. I also want to make it clear to the audience which side they would rather be on. I will be using are five props to aid my performance. I will first be using a variety of shirts laid down to create the line between the two groups. This is to further signify how important the clothes are in the performance.
In particular, those who “pass” and are approved will be able to walk over the line, signifying they are above trying to scramble to find correct clothes. I will also be using gold star stickers and cookies. Those who are approved will get a gold star on their hand and will be allowed one cookie. My intentions are to not only make those who are “approved” feel good, but also feel like they are being overly lavished with rewards for doing something as simple as putting on a shirt. I will also have a sharpie, those who do not fit the shirt and come to me for approval will have an “X” written on the top of their palm in sharpie.
This is a permanent reminder that they have failed the test and are branded to belong to the “wrong” side. I will also be chewing gum and reading a fashion magazine which will cover my face. My face will also have a gold star over my mouth to symbolize further that I say what’s approved and what isn’t without having to say anything. I plan to show the apathy of the struggles of those who are trying to fit in, as well as become an archetype of the fashion industry who is doing little to help fat people feel comfortable in their size.
For music, I will be playing “Tik Tok” by Kesha in the background. It’s to serve as a dance tune for one side of the room while being a reminder for the other side of exactly what they are missing. I chose this song in particular because it’s very literal in the lyrics about all of these fun party activities and social relationships that the singer gets to experience. These lyrics are supposed to show that this is the kind of life that you can have, if you pass the test. If you do not pass the test, then you are doomed to simply listen to these stories and not experience the fun for yourself.
I am excited about the execution of the performance because of the the meticulous planning of the concept. Through audience placement and participation, they will be able to feel the same frustration and struggles as I have growing up “plus sized”. Lighting and sound will help make it clear to each side of the class which side they actually want to be on. Props will help make the “approved” side realize how much of a reward they are getting for doing a simple task, or how they are getting punished for failing an impossible task. I hope for this to be my most successful performance yet.
