Entirely Distinct: An Exploration of Belonging, Loneliness, and Community Through Verbatim Theater Open Access
Borschel, Anjali (Spring 2025)
Abstract
Loneliness is a prevalent societal problem in today’s globalized world. How do we, as university students, navigate these deep and broad feelings of belonging and loneliness in a setting where we are constantly surrounded by others? This project attempts to explore this social issue by examining a subset of university students: Emory’s Student Theater Community. It uses verbatim theater and ethnographic research methods to investigate belonging, community, and loneliness and how we guide ourselves and others through these feelings and subsequent experiences. This project begins with interview research with participant members of the community and culminates in a creative product in the form of a verbatim play, Entirely Distinct, based on the initial interviews, perhaps providing an answer in itself as to how we can help facilitate belonging in interest-based organizations by tying together scientific, artistic, and social change as tools of investigation and exploration.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………….…………..1
RESEARCH & LITERATURE REVIEW………………………………..…………..…………..2
On Loneliness………………………………………………………………….………….2
Definitions and Clarifications………………………………………………….….2
Studies on Loneliness………………………………………………….………….4
Loneliness and Belonging in a University Setting………………………………...7
Applications to this Paper and Further Investigations………………………….....9
On Ethnographic and Verbatim Theater…………………………………………………11
Definitions Pertaining to Ethnographic Theater…………………………………11
Ethnographic Theater as a Presentation Medium………………………………..12
Ethnographic Theater Playwriting Styles………………………………………..13
Studies on & Uses of Ethnographic Theater.…………………………………….14
The Purpose, Impact, and Potential of Ethnographic Theater…………...………16
Common Pitfalls and Ethical Considerations……………………………………18
RESEARCH METHODS………...……………...………………………………………………20
Interviewee Selection Process & Interview Preparation…………………………………20
Interview & Survey Research……………………………………………………………21
CREATIVE METHODS………..……………………………………………………………….24
Playwriting……………………………………………………………………………….24
Initial Writing…………………………………………………………………….24
Feedback Implementation and Draft Writing……………………………………26
Rehearsal…………………………………………………………………………………28
Casting…………………………………………………………………………...28
Workshop Through Rehearsal…………………………………………………...29
ENTIRELY DISTINCT SCRIPT…..………...……………………………..…………..…………31
PERFORMANCE & AUDIENCE REACTIONS……………………………………………….67
Performance……………………………………………………………………………...67
Audience Talkback………………………………………………………………………67
My Experience in the Audience.…………………………………………………………70
Evaluation of the Project…………………………………………………………………71
CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………………………..75
What Do We Do Now? …………………………………...……………………………..75
Final Thoughts………………………………………………………………….………..77
APPENDICES…………………………………………………………………………………...79
Appendix A: Recruitment Materials……………………………………………………..79
Appendix B: Interview Question Guide…………………………………………………82
Appendix C: Survey Questions……………………………….………………………….84
Appendix D: Production Photos…………………………………………………………85
Appendix E: Production Program…………………………….………………………….87
Appendix F: Production Promotional Flyer…..………………………………………….89
REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………………..90
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