Embodying the Absurd
Grade 12 French students learned about biomechanics as part of their study of The Class by Romanian-French playwright Eugène Ionesco.
This avant-garde play by Romanian-French playwright Eugène Ionesco is classified as absurdist literature, a surreal and illogical genre that arose as a response to the horrors of WWII. This unit focused on the ways that language can both reflect and impact the world. Working with the JK - Grade 12 Director of the Arts, students delved into various conventions of the Theatre of the Absurd, honed their skills in script interpretation, and integrated biomechanic movements and stage design into performances of French dialogue. Through this exploration, they were better able to understand the literal and metaphorical meaning of the text, and make connections between the play and its historical context.
