1. Theatre and Visual Arts History after 1973 Group 1

2. OVERVIEW  This slideshow will cover major historical landmarks in Chilean theatre and visual art after 1973, including:  The death of Allende  The Pinochet regime  Street Theatre  The Avanzada and Teatro Abierto  The use of the body as an artistic medium  This slideshow will cover major historical landmarks in Chilean theatre and visual art after 1973, including:  The death of Allende  The Pinochet regime  Street Theatre  The Avanzada and Teatro Abierto  The use of the body as an artistic medium

3. The Fall of Allende  Allende was the socialist leader in Chile until 1973  On September 11, 1973 a military coup, orchestrated by Pinochet, stormed the presidential palace and seized control of the country.  Allede, shamed, committed suicide.  Allende was the socialist leader in Chile until 1973  On September 11, 1973 a military coup, orchestrated by Pinochet, stormed the presidential palace and seized control of the country.  Allede, shamed, committed suicide.

4. The Rise of the Pinochet Regime and Censorship  After Allende’s death Pinochet instituted a military government.  This new government began censoring different aspects of life in Chile.  Oddly enough, the theatre was (technically) one of the least restricted areas under the new regime.  After Allende’s death Pinochet instituted a military government.  This new government began censoring different aspects of life in Chile.  Oddly enough, the theatre was (technically) one of the least restricted areas under the new regime.

6. The People: Stifled  The new regime enacted many new policies that censored the freedoms of the Chilean people.  Activists that opposed the new military government would disappear, be tortured and imprisoned.  Anyone opposing the government was “dealt with”  Any institution that opposed the government, if not shut down directly, had its funding taken away.  The new regime enacted many new policies that censored the freedoms of the Chilean people.  Activists that opposed the new military government would disappear, be tortured and imprisoned.  Anyone opposing the government was “dealt with”  Any institution that opposed the government, if not shut down directly, had its funding taken away.

7. The Theatre: Censored  The theatre was not the government’s primary concern.  Government Officials felt that theatre was not a danger.  They didn’t believe that it was an effective medium in which to communicate ideas and, therefore, didn’t worry about it.  The theatre was not the government’s primary concern.  Government Officials felt that theatre was not a danger.  They didn’t believe that it was an effective medium in which to communicate ideas and, therefore, didn’t worry about it.

8. The Theatre: Censored  Even though the theatre wasn’t the target of most government censorship, this isn’t to say that the theatre wasn’t effected.  The government was always on the look out for anything that is anti- government.  So any theatre piece that was openly anti-Pinochet was shut down.  Even though the theatre wasn’t the target of most government censorship, this isn’t to say that the theatre wasn’t effected.  The government was always on the look out for anything that is anti- government.  So any theatre piece that was openly anti-Pinochet was shut down.

9. The Theatre: Censored  “There is no criteria [on what is being censored] so you have to decide how much you are prepared to risk. That’s why there is no censorship. If there was, you could study the guidelines before doing a production. But this arrangement allows them to say that we don’t have censorship. They decide if it is cultural or not. And if its cultural they will recommend students to go and see the play. If it is not, they tax us instead.” --Hector Noguera

10. Censorship Fosters Creativity  Many people maintain that the creative explosion succeeding the military coup of 1973 would not have been possible without the cruelty of the Pinochet regime  During Allende’s presidency, the artistic and theatrical scene of Chile was relatively stagnant, dealing mostly with the social issues of the proletariat versus the upper classes. They were merely demonstratory, educating the populace about the beliefs of a socialist government.  The Pinochet regime inspired Chilean artists with a unified cause  Many people maintain that the creative explosion succeeding the military coup of 1973 would not have been possible without the cruelty of the Pinochet regime  During Allende’s presidency, the artistic and theatrical scene of Chile was relatively stagnant, dealing mostly with the social issues of the proletariat versus the upper classes. They were merely demonstratory, educating the populace about the beliefs of a socialist government.  The Pinochet regime inspired Chilean artists with a unified cause

11. Metaphor as Code  In order to avoid government persecution, theatre and visual artists resorted to using metaphor to express social and political commentary without overtly speaking out against the government and risking torture.

12. Metaphor: The Continuing Story  “Metaphor not only intervenes at the level of thematic expression, or at the documentary level of image selection, but also at the material level of artistic elaboration… That which is shown or said is always tactically equivalent to something else. That which cannot be said or shown… whose secret is quite familiar to the reader or viewer.” - Nelly Richard, Margins and Institutions

13. Metaphor: Effective?  Though metaphor was effective in getting around the restrictions placed by the regime, there is some argument as to its effectiveness in reaching out to the public.  Because the metaphors needed to be so abstract in order to get past the regime’s censors, they were often lost on a more general audience.  Though metaphor was effective in getting around the restrictions placed by the regime, there is some argument as to its effectiveness in reaching out to the public.  Because the metaphors needed to be so abstract in order to get past the regime’s censors, they were often lost on a more general audience.

14. Teatro Abierto  Theater Festival, 1981-1985  Set up in opposition to the censorship established by the Pinochet regime  Numerous projects selected in order to foster a formerly suppressed freedom of speech and ideas  Many artists around Chile participated and it was a great success in its first couple years  Theater Festival, 1981-1985  Set up in opposition to the censorship established by the Pinochet regime  Numerous projects selected in order to foster a formerly suppressed freedom of speech and ideas  Many artists around Chile participated and it was a great success in its first couple years

17. The Disintegration of Teatro Abierto  By 1985 Teatro Abierto had collapsed due to its inability to adapt to changing political and cultural climate  It was established to oppose the regime, and once that had fallen, the festival had fulfilled its purpose  By 1985 Teatro Abierto had collapsed due to its inability to adapt to changing political and cultural climate  It was established to oppose the regime, and once that had fallen, the festival had fulfilled its purpose

18. Street Theatre  Street theatre flourished during the Pinochet regime.  It created a public forum that was normally kept private.  The actors openly called out public officials in the audience in order to protect themselves as well as criticize the regime.  Street theatre was very dangerous in that it was openly anti-Pinochet and it fought against the censorships imposed by his regime.  Street theatre flourished during the Pinochet regime.  It created a public forum that was normally kept private.  The actors openly called out public officials in the audience in order to protect themselves as well as criticize the regime.  Street theatre was very dangerous in that it was openly anti-Pinochet and it fought against the censorships imposed by his regime.

19. The Body as an Artistic Medium  Chilean artists began using their own bodies as canvases for their art.  By using themselves as an artistic medium, artists were able to appeal to the public on a personal and universal level.  Chilean artists began using their own bodies as canvases for their art.  By using themselves as an artistic medium, artists were able to appeal to the public on a personal and universal level.

20. Self Mutilation  Later in the Pinochet period, artists began to use their own bodies to mimic and expose the physical and emotional pain brought upon them by the government  They also considered it an act of rebellion and martyrdom, mutilating and seizing ownership of the self where it had be lost to a cruel and controlling government  “Zurita and Eltit appeal to pain as a way of approaching that borderline between individual and collective experience: their self-punishment merges with an ‘us’ that is both redeemer and redeemed.” - The Rhetoric of the Body  Later in the Pinochet period, artists began to use their own bodies to mimic and expose the physical and emotional pain brought upon them by the government  They also considered it an act of rebellion and martyrdom, mutilating and seizing ownership of the self where it had be lost to a cruel and controlling government  “Zurita and Eltit appeal to pain as a way of approaching that borderline between individual and collective experience: their self-punishment merges with an ‘us’ that is both redeemer and redeemed.” - The Rhetoric of the Body

21. The Fall of the Pinochet Regime  The 1988 Referandum  Legally voted Pinochet out of office  Only 56% were in favor of removing him from office  Chile began transitioning into Democracy  The censorship of the Military Regime was lifted  The 1988 Referandum  Legally voted Pinochet out of office  Only 56% were in favor of removing him from office  Chile began transitioning into Democracy  The censorship of the Military Regime was lifted

22. The Fate of Pinochet  He remained Commander in Chief of the Army until 1998  Chile made him a Senator for life  Created the status “Ex- President” which gave him special rights.  1998- arrested by Spanish officials for crimes he committed as a dictator-including torture, mass murder, human rights violations.  He remained Commander in Chief of the Army until 1998  Chile made him a Senator for life  Created the status “Ex- President” which gave him special rights.  1998- arrested by Spanish officials for crimes he committed as a dictator-including torture, mass murder, human rights violations.

23. The Fate of Pinochet II  Pinochet was released from prison in 2000 for medical reasons.  He returned to Chile without facing trial.  He died in 2006.  Pinochet was released from prison in 2000 for medical reasons.  He returned to Chile without facing trial.  He died in 2006.

24. Post-Pinochet Theatre  After Pinochet was removed from power, most of the censorship imposed by his regime was slowly removed.  However, because theatre became so politically charged under military control, Chilean theatre today is still inherently political in nature.  Coco Fusco  After Pinochet was removed from power, most of the censorship imposed by his regime was slowly removed.  However, because theatre became so politically charged under military control, Chilean theatre today is still inherently political in nature.  Coco Fusco