Health Theatre in a Hmong Refugee Camp: Performance, Communication, and Culture

Abstract

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Victor and ErikaWebnovela: An Innovative Generation @ Audience Engagement Strategy for Prevention

“…Vaughn, 2012; Wilkin et al, 2007), fotonovelas (Hernandez & Organista, 2013), and radionovelas (Lalonde, Rabinowitz, Shefsky, & Washienko, 1997). E-E and novelas have been used in a number of settings globally, including in settings with varying levels of development, access to technology, and with diverse audiences (Conquergood, 1988; Greenberg, Salmon, Patel, Beck, & Cole, 2004; Kincaid, Yun, Piotrow, & Yasar, 1993; Murphy & Cody, 2003; Nariman, 1993; Rogers & Antola, 1985; Singhal & Rogers, 1999; Singhal & Rogers, 2004). E-E interventions addressing a variety of health issues have demonstrated considerable effectiveness in engaging audiences in health-related topics, improving health knowledge, reducing risk behaviors, and influencing attitudes and peer, social and cultural norms (McGill & Joseph, 1997; Skinner, Metcalf, Seager, De Swardt, & Laubscher, 1991; Valente, Kim, Letternmaier, Glass, & Dibba, 1994; Valente, Poppe, Alva, Vera de Briceno, & Cases, 1995; Valente & Bharath, 1999; Villasenor, Galindo, & Sabido, 1982).…”

Youth Performing Arts Entertainment-Education for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Health Promotion: Practice and Research

“…These studies have consistently shown that well-designed and executed live theater performances are able to engage audiences; in¯uence the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of audience members; and positively impact peer, social, and cultural norms (Conquergood, 1988;Kincaid, Yun, Piotrow, & Yasar, 1993;Piotrow et al, 1997;Rogers & Antola, 1985;Singhal & Rogers, 1989Valente, Kim, Lettenmaier, Glass, & Dibba, 1994;Nariman, 1993). For example, in Peru (Valente, Poppe, Alva, Vera de Bricen Ä o, & Cases, 1995), in Sri Lanka (McGill & Joseph, 1997), in South Africa (Skinner, Metcalf, Seager, DeSwardt, & Laubscher, 1991), and in India (Valente & Bharath, 1999), entertainment±education efforts that involved live dramatic performances were linked with short-term gains in knowledge and positive attitudes about health issues among audience members, many of them youth.…”

Mythology, narrative, and discourse in Javanesewayangtowards cross‐level theories for the new development paradigm

“…See, for example, Conquergood (1988) who was hard pressed to determine exactly what kind of impact his experiment with health theatre in a Hmong refugee camp in Thailand had had beyond evidence that villagers had enthusiastically enjoyed it and continued to mount performances. A similar lack of hard impact data is found in Valbuena's (1987) report of a Unesco project using theatre to promote environmental awareness in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.…”

“…Where lack of access to electronic media exists (an increasingly rare situation), or where people prefer certain local channels or rely on traditional social networks for certain types of interaction, traditional channels may be appropriate choices. Using ethnographic research and participant observation on health issues, Conquergood (1988) health education theatre for rabies vaccination and village hygiene projects.…”

“…In the case of popular theatre, opportunities can be created for the community to assume almost complete control over the communication process from beginning to end, creating a sense of empowerment among previously powerless people (Boal, 1985;Kidd, 1982). Conquergood's (1988) example of Hmong health theatre demonstrates how the performance troupe developed its own ideas for performance through consultation with village elders and in response to reactions from their audiences. Conquergood reports that two years after the initial campaign, the health theatre group was still performing.…”