Beyond Verbatim: Embodied Truth and the Limits of Language in House Arrest
In an era marked by the proliferation of media images and the blurring of fact and fabrication, Anna Deavere Smith’s House Arrest (1999) offers a compelling exploration of truth, language and the pervasive influence of media in shaping public perception. Through verbatim text, minimalist staging and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Atatürk University
2024-09-01
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| Series: | Theatre Academy |
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| Online Access: | https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/4131077 |
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| author | Mehmet Ünal |
| author_facet | Mehmet Ünal |
| author_sort | Mehmet Ünal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In an era marked by the proliferation of media images and the blurring of fact and fabrication, Anna Deavere Smith’s House Arrest (1999) offers a compelling exploration of truth, language and the pervasive influence of media in shaping public perception. Through verbatim text, minimalist staging and emotionally resonant performance, Smith highlights how individuals, particularly those from marginalised groups, are vulnerable to having their narratives distorted or controlled by those in power. In light of media effects theories, including framing, agenda-setting and Marshall McLuhan’s concepts of the ‘global village’ and ‘the medium is the message,’ this article analyses how the play compels a critical examination of media manipulation and the subtle ways language constructs individuals’ understanding of truth. Transcending its historical context, House Arrest emerges as a timely call for heightened media literacy and a discerning approach to information consumption in a world increasingly characterised by political polarisation and misinformation. Ultimately, Smith advocates for an active engagement with diverse perspectives and a recognition of the limitations of language by encouraging the audience to cultivate a more conscious and critical relationship with the information that surrounds them. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6ce283a092ab4d268508dc3fce101122 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2980-1656 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-09-01 |
| publisher | Atatürk University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Theatre Academy |
| spelling | doaj-art-6ce283a092ab4d268508dc3fce1011222025-02-06T12:41:43ZengAtatürk UniversityTheatre Academy2980-16562024-09-012213615210.62425/theatreacademy.153010955Beyond Verbatim: Embodied Truth and the Limits of Language in House ArrestMehmet Ünal0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6857-2940ATATÜRK ÜNİVERSİTESİIn an era marked by the proliferation of media images and the blurring of fact and fabrication, Anna Deavere Smith’s House Arrest (1999) offers a compelling exploration of truth, language and the pervasive influence of media in shaping public perception. Through verbatim text, minimalist staging and emotionally resonant performance, Smith highlights how individuals, particularly those from marginalised groups, are vulnerable to having their narratives distorted or controlled by those in power. In light of media effects theories, including framing, agenda-setting and Marshall McLuhan’s concepts of the ‘global village’ and ‘the medium is the message,’ this article analyses how the play compels a critical examination of media manipulation and the subtle ways language constructs individuals’ understanding of truth. Transcending its historical context, House Arrest emerges as a timely call for heightened media literacy and a discerning approach to information consumption in a world increasingly characterised by political polarisation and misinformation. Ultimately, Smith advocates for an active engagement with diverse perspectives and a recognition of the limitations of language by encouraging the audience to cultivate a more conscious and critical relationship with the information that surrounds them.https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/4131077anna deavere smithhouse arrestmedia effectsverbatim theatreperformanceanna deavere smithhouse arrestmedya etkileriverbatim tiyatrosuperformans |
| spellingShingle | Mehmet Ünal Beyond Verbatim: Embodied Truth and the Limits of Language in House Arrest Theatre Academy anna deavere smith house arrest media effects verbatim theatre performance anna deavere smith house arrest medya etkileri verbatim tiyatrosu performans |
| title | Beyond Verbatim: Embodied Truth and the Limits of Language in House Arrest |
| title_full | Beyond Verbatim: Embodied Truth and the Limits of Language in House Arrest |
| title_fullStr | Beyond Verbatim: Embodied Truth and the Limits of Language in House Arrest |
| title_full_unstemmed | Beyond Verbatim: Embodied Truth and the Limits of Language in House Arrest |
| title_short | Beyond Verbatim: Embodied Truth and the Limits of Language in House Arrest |
| title_sort | beyond verbatim embodied truth and the limits of language in house arrest |
| topic | anna deavere smith house arrest media effects verbatim theatre performance anna deavere smith house arrest medya etkileri verbatim tiyatrosu performans |
| url | https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/4131077 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mehmetunal beyondverbatimembodiedtruthandthelimitsoflanguageinhousearrest |