Member-only story

Involuntary Motion: The Somatics of Refugee Performance

Eli Blair

·6.2k Followers· Follow

Published in A W Hart

4 min read

469 View Claps

66 Respond

Save

Listen

Involuntary Motion: The Somatics of Refugee Performance

by A.W. Hart

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3973 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	152 pages

Refugee performance is a burgeoning field of artistic expression that has emerged in recent years in response to the global refugee crisis. This work often seeks to raise awareness of the plight of refugees, to challenge stereotypes, and to create a space for refugees to share their stories.

One of the most striking features of refugee performance is the use of involuntary movement. This can take many forms, from the trembling of hands to the shaking of bodies. It is often seen as a sign of trauma, but it can also be a powerful form of embodied storytelling and resistance.

Involuntary Movement as Embodied Storytelling

Involuntary movement can be a way for refugees to express their experiences in a way that words cannot. It can convey the physical and emotional toll of displacement, the trauma of violence and loss, and the struggle to rebuild a life in a new country.

For example, in the performance piece "The Body Remembers," refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo used their bodies to tell the story of their journey to safety. They mimed the act of walking for days on end, carrying their belongings on their heads. They trembled their hands to show the fear they felt when they were attacked by bandits. And they shook their bodies to express the pain of losing their loved ones.

This performance was a powerful reminder of the physical and emotional challenges that refugees face. It also showed how involuntary movement can be a powerful tool for storytelling, allowing refugees to share their experiences in a way that is both visceral and moving.

Involuntary Movement as Resistance

Involuntary movement can also be a form of resistance. It can be a way for refugees to challenge the stereotypes that are often applied to them. It can also be a way for them to assert their agency and to refuse to be defined by their experiences.

For example, in the performance piece "The Unwanted," refugees from Syria used their bodies to create a living tableau of the refugee experience. They lay on the ground in the fetal position, their bodies covered in dirt. They huddled together for warmth, their faces contorted in pain. And they writhed on the ground, their bodies expressing the agony of displacement.

This performance was a powerful indictment of the way that refugees are often treated. It showed the physical and emotional toll of displacement, and it challenged the idea that refugees are simply passive victims. Instead, it showed that refugees are resilient and strong, and that they are fighting for their lives.

Involuntary movement is a powerful tool for refugee performance. It can be a way for refugees to tell their stories, to challenge stereotypes, and to assert their agency. It is a form of resistance that can raise awareness of the plight of refugees and help to create a more just world.

Involuntary Motion: The Somatics of Refugee Performance

by A.W. Hart

4.8 out of 5