Ubu and the Truth Commission Flashcards
(29 cards)
Who is the playwright of ‘Ubu and the Truth Commission’?
Jane Taylor
Who directed ‘Ubu and the Truth Commission’?
William Kentridge
When was ‘Ubu and the Truth Commission’ first performed?
1997
What is the style of ‘Ubu and the Truth Commission’?
Postmodernism
What play is ‘Ubu and the Truth Commission’ based on?
Ubu Roi (1896) by Alfred Jarry
What does ‘Ubu and the Truth Commission’ explore?
South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) after apartheid.
What was the purpose of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)?
To uncover human rights abuses, offer amnesty, and promote healing.
What are the three committees of the TRC?
Human Rights Violations, Reparation & Rehabilitation, and Amnesty.
What criticism did the TRC face?
Perceived bias toward perpetrators and issues in translating testimonies.
What did Jane Taylor aim to portray in the play?
The complex, ambiguous reactions to suffering and trauma.
How does the play use puppets?
To tell true stories from the TRC, distancing horror from sensationalism.
What is the significance of audience laughter in the play?
It prompts the audience to question their own responses.
What do the puppets represent in the play?
Victims and perpetrators, showing vulnerability and mediation.
Who is Pa Ubu?
A corrupt police officer who tortures victims, symbolizing apartheid’s brutality.
What does the Niles/Crocodile character represent?
An evil advisor who encourages blame-shifting and destroys evidence.
What does the three-headed dog, Brutus, symbolize?
Soldiers, generals, and politicians involved in torture; a scapegoat figure.
What does the vulture symbolize?
Death and narration, mechanical and emotionless.
What does the shadow puppet/Ubu Roi represent?
Dictatorial power and inner greedy thoughts; links to the original Ubu character.
What theme involves manipulation of truth?
Power: Manipulation of truth and evidence to evade justice.
What theme is symbolized by the vulture?
Death: Ever-present consequence of apartheid torture.
What theme questions the reality of testimonies?
Truth vs. Fantasy: Blurred lines between real testimonies and puppet representation.
What theme involves the control of puppets?
Manipulation: By perpetrators in hiding the truth and puppeteers controlling the puppets.
What does ‘Being Seen’ represent in the play?
Victims seek acknowledgment; TRC’s televised hearings symbolize exposure.
Who directed the play known for political art?
William Kentridge
