Answer :
Theatre offers a powerful means of engaging with social issues such as racism, sexism, and homophobia through emotional, community-oriented experiences that foster empathy and reflection, whereas news media presents these issues more factually and may lack the same depth of personal engagement.
Theatre and news media both provide insights into social issues such as racism, sexism, and homophobia, but they do so in different ways. Theatre creates a safe space for challenging discussions, utilizing live, metaphoric performances to engage audiences on a deeper emotional level. These performances often provoke thought and empathy, reaching beyond mere presentation of facts to actually shaping the viewers' understandings and feelings toward the depicted issues. Comparatively, the news tends to present these issues in a more factual, didactic manner, which may not always allow for the same depth of emotional engagement or personal reflection.
Regarding tackling sensitive subjects, theatre leverages its performative nature to foster a sense of community and shared experience, as the audience and actors co-exist in the same space, participating in a collective emotional journey. This communal aspect of theatre creates an environment conducive to empathy and understanding, which is essential when addressing the complexities of discrimination and prejudice. Moreover, theatre can also serve as a form of sociopolitical commentary, directly or indirectly critiquing societal issues and influencing public perception and discourse. Plays like 'Fairview', 'The Thanksgiving Play', and 'A Strange Loop' are modern examples of theatre confronting and reflecting societal concerns regarding race, culture, and sexual orientation.
On the contrary, news media's representation behind the scenes often lacks diversity, which can limit perspectives and perpetuate a singular narrative. Theatre challenges this by asking, "Through whose lens is this story being told?" and encourages storytelling that reflects and embraces cultural diversity.
