NEUTRAL MASK AS AN ARTISTIC-PEDAGOGICAL DEVICE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF BODY AWARENESS IN THEATER EDUCATION STUDENTS
Neutral mask; Awareness; Body; Theatre education.
This research proposes to investigate the contributions of exercises with the neutral mask, within the context of theatre education, to the development of students’ bodily awareness. To this end, it intends to appropriate the methodology proposed by Jacques Lecoq (2021), adapting it to the classroom context in order to promote bodily awareness among high school students at IFRN – Campus Natal-Central. The study is guided by the following questions: In what ways do exercises with the neutral mask contribute to the development of students’ bodily awareness in theatre education? How can the neutral mask enhance students’ bodily presence in the classroom? Can experiencing the neutral mask provide a path toward self-knowledge? And can it encourage young students to explore new bodily possibilities during their formative years? As the main methodological procedure, cartography was chosen for its qualitative character, as it allows the researcher to participate attentively in the stages of the investigation, following the flow of the process and establishing modes of presence within the time of the “here and now.” This research aims to contribute to the expansion of discussions in the field of Arts Education regarding the role and potential of students’ bodies within formal school contexts.