Hi Fellow students!

My name is Tai Grauman and I am a late joiner (and even later because this site baffles me).  I am going into my intermediate year of my BFA acting program but I am also beginning a double major in First Nations Studies.  Many have advised me against a double major but I am bound and determined to complete it.  I am of Metis descent and my heritage informs my art and passion for theatre daily.  I have a particular interest in First Nations Canadian literature and art.  I am looking forward to gaining a widened knowledge of First Nations writers and works from present and past which give insights into the Native American identity post colonization.  I am also excited to research “the power of stories” (Paterson), as my daily life as an actor is fuelled by stories, the power of words written on a page are of the utmost importance to my life.  I am also keen on the bullet point in the overview which says “gain some expertise in storytelling” (Paterson), that sounds like fun.  This course consists of analytical insight into Canadian literature, and the understanding of the difference between oral stories and written literature.  It is centred around the art of storytelling.

This is a picture from my favourite play Rez Sisters written by Tomson Highway.  It is a play about a group of women who live on a Reserve.  One of the reasons why I fell in love with this play was because it isn’t solely about one aspect of these women’s lives.  As a reader or audience member, their honesty makes us laugh, their love for one another makes us smile and their tragic stories make us cry.  I have also attached a Review of the play, it is a review of a more recent production.  I chose this review because it emphasizes that the play is both heart wrenching yet hilarious.  It is a beautiful piece and I believe it is a very important play within Canadian theatre history which is not often given enough credit.  In her review Amy Smart quotes actress Tantoo Cardinal who was in the original production as well as this recent production, Cardinal states when referring to the act of change through the arts, “It’s like water.  Water can get through places where maybe a textbook or lecture or something like that might not get through.” (Smart).  I agree with Tantoo, I think theatre is a fantastic way to give a group of people a voice, all we have to do is get society to listen to them.

For my second hyperlink I have attached a recent CBC article about a clothing line released by two Canadian designers.  The fashion line was labeled with a discriminatory title.  Along with positive art forms (like Rez sisters), there is harmful discrimination made through art forms.  It is also interesting to note that on the article social media addressing the issue is attached, but below the article is an accumulation of insensitive comments regarding the issue.  An interesting observation to make on how discriminatory art can be circulated and perceived.  I feel as though these comments demonstrate a strong example of the power of words.

I look forward to reading all your blogs!

Tai

Baccari, Ava. ‘The Rez Sisters | Theatromania’. Archive.theatromania.ca. N.p., 2015. Web. 20 May 2015.

Cbc.ca,. ‘Dsquared2 Under Fire For #Dsquaw Women’s Fashion Collection’. N.p., 2015. Web. 20 May 2015.

Smart, Amy. ‘At Belfry Theatre, Rez Sisters Tale Rings True After 28 Years – See More At: Http://Www.Timescolonist.Com/At-Belfry-Theatre-Rez-Sisters-Tale-Rings-True-After-28-Years-1.1378437#Sthash.Aggl58zd.Dpuf’. Times Colonist 2014. Web. 20 May 2015.