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Ethnographic Theater
The purpose of ethnographic theater is to present and explore a particular culture for analysis. Ethnotheater employs traditional techniques of formal theater production to create a performance event whose characters are actual research participants portrayed by actors. It does not attempt to take a side, but tries to place the viewer in the position of the subjects in order to ask “What is your place in this?”
Moises Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project took the hours of interviews from Laramie townspeople and created “The Laramie Project” in this manner. Kaufman and his actors attempted to remain objective, one of the most important aspects of ethnographic theater. Using the words of the townspeople, their project shed light on a tragic and controversial event. In learning more about the people of Laramie, those on the outside were forced to look deeper for answers rather than merely condemning the entire town.