W. R. A. P. Analysis

Words: 560
Pages: 3

While some people stubbornly refuse to acknowledge the challenges that plague modern society, most people are willing to watch dance. This makes dance invaluable for communicating the realities of the struggles faced by many members of society. Furthermore, as “social relations are both enacted and produced through the body, and not merely inscribed upon it” (Desmond 33), dance has the unique ability to both inform people and inspire them to action. Throughout its various installments, [UN]W.R.A.P. took advantage of this ability, highlighting several of the social issues present in modern society. Through both live performance and cinematic dance, [UN]W.R.A.P. explored the difficult questions of personal identity and racial equality, allowing …show more content…
During this dance, Joy French told the story of her hometown in Kansas. Dressed in loose-fitting overalls, she danced within a small square taped on the ground, depicting the physical landscapes which the accompanying narration described. Video footage of a park in French’s hometown was projected on the wall behind her (French, “Father’s Day”). As French explored the relationship between people’s experiences and the location in which they happen (French), the dance had a largely contemplative tone. Drawing on the fact that “social identities are signaled, formed, and negotiated through bodily movement” (Desmond 29), French demonstrated how an individual’s memories are often lost within the geographical makeup of a place, as others build more stories, experiences, and identities on top of those that came before them (French). By questioning how much she knew about the stories of others around her and the places upon which they built, French left the audience questioning how their personal identities tied into the unknown stories by which they were