The rituals are a practical demonstration of various thespian skills. In that regard, it is similar to an apprentice electrician (or any other restricted trade) demonstrating a mastery of the appropriate skills. It is similar to licensing exams for advanced certifications from professional engineer to lawyer. Those exams make you uncomfortable as well, getting quizzed on things that may have little application to the normal work a person does, but still falls within the realm of their career. Heck, I can't think of any practical examinations required for a formal membership/certification/degree that isn't stressful
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My Father is on the National board of Alpha Epsilon Pie.
It's a social fraternity so there are some differences but I'm sure he would be happy to shoot the shit with you about fraternity topics. He's also an insurance broker so he's all up on the hazing stuff.
Let me know if you want me to put you in touch with him.
I'll elaborate MY thoughts on this more tomorrow when I'm bored at work.
You do? So you aren't going to do another show? I thought you were talking about auditions just the other day. Huh.
What pledges in Alpha Psi Omega are asked to do is perform. It's not comparable to a performance in front of an audience in that it is private. Actors are asked to do monologues from Shakespeare all the time. To divulge some semi-private stuff about DX in a public forum, actors are asked to improvise in front of audiences all the time. What about it is hazing, when the people we are talking about are actors? They're being asked to do the same thing in the ceremony that they will be asked to do again that very night in front of a paying audience, it's just different lines. And the lines themselves are not degrading, embarrassing, etc.
So what about it IS hazing? I have a hard time explaining why it is not because I look at the two and can't see a difference.
1) DX missed something, then. It is not allowed to reject someone for not doing well in the initiation ceremony.
2) And one-dimensional theater folks aren't worthy of honor. Sorry if this isn't PC, but too bad. Everyone should have to see all sides of the coin. the National requirements for membership explicitly state that you MUST work in a variety of production tasks, so you CAN'T become a member by only being a actor, or only a tech.
3) OK, I'll give you this one.
4) But I'm not sure how any of that added up to "if I'm to remain their friend". Theater is full of surprises, we've all had to deal with the unexpected under the lights. Yes, including me who spends all of his time backstage. At the same time, I think this is your best point and maybe DX needs to re-examine their traditions with a copy of the RPI Handbook hazing policy in their hands at the time.
Explicitly tie the pledge activities to specific skillsets. Not to lofty goals like unity and pride, but to actual theater-related practical training. Also, that bit about every ^&*ing day - make that explicit, too.
While standing in front of an audience may be something an actor does it isn't something a techie would normally do but yet they have to do it... very fine lines with all of this stuff. Also, I didn't think that all of the casts did exactly the same things that we did locally so maybe someone out there has better ideas that may seem less like hazing than what we do here.
Sounds like it'll be a long and fun day! GOOD LUCK!
True, not everyone does the same things. Actually DX does a lot more than most. Most do what the national requirements list, which is the Shakespeare, the officers, five other chapters, and the Greek alphabet.
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It's a social fraternity so there are some differences but I'm sure he would be happy to shoot the shit with you about fraternity topics. He's also an insurance broker so he's all up on the hazing stuff.
Let me know if you want me to put you in touch with him.
I'll elaborate MY thoughts on this more tomorrow when I'm bored at work.
Reply
Reply
What pledges in Alpha Psi Omega are asked to do is perform. It's not comparable to a performance in front of an audience in that it is private. Actors are asked to do monologues from Shakespeare all the time. To divulge some semi-private stuff about DX in a public forum, actors are asked to improvise in front of audiences all the time. What about it is hazing, when the people we are talking about are actors? They're being asked to do the same thing in the ceremony that they will be asked to do again that very night in front of a paying audience, it's just different lines. And the lines themselves are not degrading, embarrassing, etc.
So what about it IS hazing? I have a hard time explaining why it is not because I look at the two and can't see a difference.
Reply
Reply
1) DX missed something, then. It is not allowed to reject someone for not doing well in the initiation ceremony.
2) And one-dimensional theater folks aren't worthy of honor. Sorry if this isn't PC, but too bad. Everyone should have to see all sides of the coin. the National requirements for membership explicitly state that you MUST work in a variety of production tasks, so you CAN'T become a member by only being a actor, or only a tech.
3) OK, I'll give you this one.
4) But I'm not sure how any of that added up to "if I'm to remain their friend". Theater is full of surprises, we've all had to deal with the unexpected under the lights. Yes, including me who spends all of his time backstage. At the same time, I think this is your best point and maybe DX needs to re-examine their traditions with a copy of the RPI Handbook hazing policy in their hands at the time.
Reply
Explicitly tie the pledge activities to specific skillsets. Not to lofty goals like unity and pride, but to actual theater-related practical training. Also, that bit about every ^&*ing day - make that explicit, too.
Reply
Sounds like it'll be a long and fun day! GOOD LUCK!
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