On the Road to Catharsis: A Theoretical Framework for Change

This article discusses the use of confrontational theater and critical ethno-drama as a potential route toward examining and illuminating the construction of performance catharsis. Staged catharsis is discussed as a means of sharing and mapping the collectiv ized understandings produced by audiences and participants. Theoretically, such a process may result in a better comprehension of a collectivized emotional position as the underpinning of a new understanding of collective action.