Today Essential Members of EXP met with a Collected Member
Time: 9AM
Location: Blue State Coffee
Conversation: Being Watched
EXP's 100-person Street Theatre Eruption was an excellent success! Musicians, actors, visual artists, jugglers, lion dancers, circus performers, knitters, improv-ers, poetry readers, and origami-makers all came together to transform College Hill into a giant, marvelous, spectacular, free theater.
Keep your eyes peeled for a video of the event. It'll be posted right here.
At 10:50AM on Wednesday EXP member Chrissie Bodznick will be eating a vegetable on the bench outside of Sayles. EXP member Karin Freed will be lounging on the grass at the corner of Waterman and Thayer eating a vegetable. EXP member Hollis Mickey will be sitting on the steps of the Rockefeller Library eating a vegetable. You can visit, you can watch, you can eat a vegetable! BUT you cannot participate in all 3 events at once. (Unless you are very fast). So you will have to choose. Be one of a hundred members of this collective by participating in one of these events! Post responses to our blog : expbrown.blogspot.com
See our listing as a CAMPUS EVENT.
EXP Member H: 
Consumed arugula. Librarians are angered. They hunt EXP member H. She hides in the stacks.
On Thursday, October 16th, there will be a GIGANTIC street theatre event happening all throughout college hill, and I really need your help with it.
THE MISSION: To line every major street around Brown's campus with a total of 100 street performers - at least three performers (or groups of performers) per block, maybe even more. Performers will be doing anything from playing an instrument, to reading poetry, to doing yoga poses, to blowing bubbles. (See below for more examples). The event will be 1/2 hour in length, starting at 5:00pm and ending at 5:30pm. It will be big, and surprising, and joyful, and utopian. It will require a very minimal time commitment.
WHY: This event falls into that category of art that tries to show what's possible. It is about exploring and presenting the possibilities laden in our own streets. What if the streets were completely filled with performers one day? Not just one or two, but 50 or even 100 of them? What if, out of nowhere, the streets around campus transformed into a giant theater? A giant theater that was totally accessible, totally inclusive, and totally free of charge? Who's to say these things can't happen?
This event might seem idealistic, and it is, but it's not naive. If we stop imagining the world as it can be, then, in a way, we give up on changing it.
WHAT CONSTITUTES PERFORMANCE: every person, no matter how little or how much he or she is involved in theatre, can take part in this event. There are infinite kinds of performances. I'll list some here, but if you want to do something that I don't mention, feel free!
- sing
- play an instrument
- beat box
- break dance
- swing dance
- tango
- juggle
- perform magic
- clown
- mime
- be a human statue
- do improv
- whistle
- perform a monologue
- perform a play
- recite poetry
- dribble a basketball in cool ways
- balance something on your head
- do yoga
- do karate moves (but not on pedestrians)
- rap
- paint
- draw
- sculpt
- carve wood
- knit
- cook
- twirl a baton, or some other object
- do origami
- make a duct tape wallet
- impersonate celebrities
- interpretive dance
- jump rope
- pose in interesting ways
- tell jokes
- operate a puppet
- blow bubbles using only your saliva
- turn an everyday object into a musical instrument and play it
- tap dance
- dance in any way you can imagine
- wiggle your ears
- ANYTHING!
A FEW NOTES: This event is not intended to be hostile or aggressive. Performers will be allowed to do almost anything, but they will not be allowed to attack pedestrians in any way, or do anything illegal.
WHO'S IN CHARGE: This event is being organized by EXP, a theatre collective which seeks to produce unlikely performance art events that defy the traditional limits of theatre. For more information on EXP, visit expbrown.blogspot.com. The members of the collective will hold two meetings leading up to the event, which will be used to explain the details of it even more. The first is on Tuesday October 7th at 6:30pm in Wilson 101. You must attend that meeting to participate as a performer. If for whatever reason you cannot, but still really want to perform, email exp.brown@gmail.com saying so. Again, this will require a MINIMAL TIME COMMITMENT.
YOUR NEXT STEP: If you want to be part of this marvelously GIGANTIC street theatre event, please show up to the meeting that EXP is hosting on Tuesday October 7th at 6:30pm in Wilson 101. It will be brief, but very informative. Also, if you have any questions about the event, direct them to exp.brown@gmail.com.
We need 100 people to get involved. Feel free to forward this email to anyone you think might be interested in helping out!
Friday, September 19th
Of the small variety:
EXP has set a new expiration date for itself: 12-12-08. We will continue using this blog to post information about past and upcoming events. EXP may be contacted at exp.brown@gmail.com.
The opening section is corrupted and unreadable.
Apollodorus
But that is simply not how I conceive of love. It is just a bit unwieldy. And I don’t think that is where the belly-button came from.
Plato
It is fact, Apollodorus. Science.
Apollodorus
You are the boss. But maybe I can speak for a moment on love between friends? Love based on affection, without any sexing? A love devoid of exclusivity?
Plato
That is something else entirely.
Apollodorus
I will call it Platonic love with your permission.
Plato
You do not have my permission.
A fragment is missing, presumably in which Apollodorus gains Plato’s permission to use his name.
Apollodorus
So this Platonic love, it is all around us!
Plato
If that were the case, why would people not shower one another with affection willy-nilly?
Apollodorus
Maybe they cannot.
Plato
What is to stop them?
Apollodorus
Why, the shackles of a society which tells them no! The norm is to complement someone if you want something out of them, whether it be sex, money, food, entertainment, what have you.
Plato
That’s not at all true. Apollodorus, I think you have beautiful eyes. And I am not even trying to get into your toga.
Apollodorus
First of all, yes you are. Secondly, your agenda for complementing me was to disprove my point. Thirdly, this conversation created a framework in which you could complement me. A decontextualized complement is a rare and suspect creature. So they generally do not happen. But that does not mean that Platonic love does not exist. It is just squelched and internalized.
Plato
So why do you not create a framework in which people can complement each other and show affection without the assumption of an underlying agenda?
Apollodorus
Such as a forum?
Plato
Broader?
Apollodorus
A new country?
Plato
Something a little more manageable with slightly less military imperative perhaps.
Apollodorus
A holiday!
Plato
Go on.
Apollodorus
We shall establish a day on which the conventional norm is to compliment without agenda or expectation of reciprocation.
Plato
And how are you going to coerce people to display affection towards one another? Prizes for the best complement? Free food for participants?
Apollodorus
The act of giving and receiving love is incentive enough. The point of the framework is not to bribe people to act in a way they would not normally act. The assumption is that people want to display their affection for one another; it is just hard to do spontaneously.
Plato
And love will spread…
Apollodorus
Like what future generations will refer to as a “virus.” The viral transmission of love. One person will complement another, who will complement three others, and so on.
Plato
Hmm. Describe the day to me.
Apollodorus
Well, there is a feast of
The section describing the day has been lost, except for the fragment outlining the ritual.
Plato
And this ritual shall occur when?
Apollodorus
Thrice, at even intervals across the day. Midnight beginning the day, noon, and the midnight ending the day. It will be elegant and simple, so that anyone can participate with ease.
Plato
So pairs of people
Apollodorus
Trios.
Plato
Why?
Apollodorus
Pairs of people are your thing. Trios are mine. I think it is as important and joyful to witness friends complimenting each other as it is to give and receive. So the three shall stand in a triangle, cross arms, hold hands, and take turns complimenting each other, once around as the sundial processes, and once in the reverse direction, so that each gives to the other two, and each receives from the other two.
Plato
What should the complements be like?
Apollodorus
Genuine. Specific. Heartfelt. They can be anything though.
Plato
Are you going to name it after me?
Apollodorus
Platonic Love Day.
Plato
Ah. When will it be?
The rest of the text is missing.
Curious about the expiration date stickers posted around campus?
They announce the date of EXP's latest UNLIKELY EVENT. But is this unlikely event for you? Well, please take a moment to consider this questionnaire...
1. You have an attention span of approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds
2. You love cartoons but worry about age-appropriateness
3. You eat food provided for you
4. You've often thought: "Why can't watching YouTube be a community-building activity? Why must I always choose between my laptop and my friends? Why doesn't somebody just rent a projector and play some animation on the wall of their living room and then give me a blanket and a beer and can't there please be a Klezmer band too?"
If any of the above apply to you, EXP has a solution:
CLIPS AND CHIPS
Student animation, food, drink and live music
Friday 11/31, 9:30
208 Williams (off of Hope), 3rd floor.
The script, the script!
(me)
Hello, good afternoon,
I hope you’re having a wonderful day
We are a performance group from College Hill, and we’d like to show you a short play.
To perform it take five minutes tops
We can do it right here, outside, in sunshine or rain drops.
Alright, well,, without further ado, we present to you our show,
It’s all in good fun, so please don’t go…
(Jose)
Much thanks for letting us perform for you,
We’re excited to tell you this story anew.
It’s sort of sad, so tears may seep
But I have with me tissues in case you must weep.
(Elise)
Ay, he’s right, it’s a tale of great woe
Where a brave soldier doth fight, and his life doth go.
He is married you see, and his wife is saddened.
But a genius doctor arrives who is skilled though maddened.
(me)
And now we’ll act the story from here
Because we don’t want boredom too near.
From the left we see the soldier enter
Speaking casually with his fighting mentor.
(Soldier)
Oh man, I married this amazing girl.
She’s my love, my heart, my body’s pearl.
If anyone dares take her from me,
A fight will have to be his fee.
(Mentor)
Yes, yes, understandably so,
Your wife is as pretty as a golden doe.
[To the side]
So pretty in fact that I want her for me.
I’ll steal her from him today by three.
(Soldier)
What’s that dear mentor, do you talk to yourself?
Oh please speak up, not like some small elf.
[looking at his clock] Woah, it looks as if I’ve lost track of time
It’s nearly 3, so to work I must climb.
(soldier climbs away)
(mentor approaches soldier’s wife)
(mentor)
Hello there miss, you’re looking real fine
I was just wondering if you want to be mine.
I’ve got money and gifts and a home for you
We could be together in love us two.
(wife)
Oh dear I’m really sorry to say
I recently married in the month of may.
My husband, he’s a brave soldier in town.
He makes me so happy I never frown.
(mentor)
[getting evil] Well then, I’ll have to take you by force,
Your love will not affect my course.
You’re to be mine you see, I love you so,
Don’t think about running, there’s nowhere to go.
(Just then the soldier enters)
(soldier)
What’s this mentor? Do you steal my wife?
Aha! Well then! Meet my knife! [He wips out his sword]
Let’s duel, you and me, until someone dies
Because you can’t have my wife! Oh look! She sighs!
[wife sighs]
(wife)
Dear husband, please, you must win this fight
I love you so much, with all of my might.
If you die today, I don’t know what I’ll do,
I’ll mourn all my life at the church’s pew.
(mentor)
Even as she’s about to faint, I think she’s the loveliest of all
(soldier)
[angrily] Don’t even think about it mentor, you’re about to meet your fall.
(mentor)
Oh, you make me laugh you soldier you
I’ll kill you in a moment, on the count of two.
(crowd counts to two)
(soldier and mentor fight)
(mentor kills soldier, who yells out)
(wife rushes to his body, hysterical)
(wife)
Oh my God! You’ve killed him now!
I hate you, I do, you’re the worst kind of foul.
Run away from here, I’ll never be yours!
[to the crowd]Is there a doctor here who knows many cures?!
(mentor runs away in horror)
(mad doctor appears from the crowd)
(doctor)
Yes, there is, I can save your man’s life
I’m an expert, you see, at curing wounds from a knife.
I’ll give him two drops of this magic potion
And in one minute, his body will be back in motion.
(Doctor administers potion. Soldier returns to life)
(wife)
Hooray! You’re back! I thought it’d never be so!
I couldn’t stand the idea that you had to go!
This doctor saved you, he’s amazing, the best!
Though he does wear funny clothing, just look at his vest!
(doctor)
Now, now, don’t judge me by the way I dress
I happen to be a lunatic, I must confess.
But my lunacy makes me the best doctor on earth
And no one can deny that I bring them much mirth!
(soldier)
You certainly do, doctor, thank you so much.
For saving my life, I’ll treat you to lunch.
My wife and I are excellent cooks
We’ll reward you for all the effort you took.
(The three march off joyfully to lunch)
(Jose)
And so, you see, the tale does not end so crappy.
(Elise)
That’s right, happiness was resolves awfully snappy.
(Me)
What we hope is that it’s made the audience happy
(Jose)
Despite the fact that it was awfully sappy.
(everyone)
The end!
(me)
Thanks you for watching, and now we’ll move on
Have a wonderful weekend once we are gone!
Instantly, Jose hits play on the boom box!
