Community theatre is an important device for communities to collectively share stories; to participate in political dialogue; and to break down the increasing exclusion of marginalised groups of citizens. It is practised all over the world by growing numbers of people. Published at the same time as a video of the same name; this is a unique record of these theatre groups in action. Based on van Ervens own travels and experiences working with community theatre groups in six very different countries; this is the first study of their work and the methodological traditions which have developed around the world.
#1713213 in eBooks 2002-09-11 2002-09-11File Name: B000FBFGGW
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Paul gives us a well-informed and intelligent account of how various institutionalBy R. DebrigardIf you are interested in City Planning; this book is a must. Paul Goldberger gives us a well-informed and intelligent account of how various institutional; personal; and economic forces present in post-9/11/01 New York City came together over a 10-year period to produce the redevelopment of "Ground Zero" as we know it today. He does a great job at detailing all the salient characteristics of the project; and traces their origin and development in the push and pull of the various forces at work. Paul can do this because he is well versed in the history of the city; its social and political character and institutions; the nature of the citys real estate profession; and at the same time also knows the design and planning professions; and the concepts and ideas that have guided these over time; particularly as they apply to New York City. He also must have had the inside ear of many individuals in and out of government that were close to the action; because at various junctures he provides us with vignettes that could only have been known by the parties at the table. And clearly he had access to a lot of newspapers; because the development of Ground Zero is probably one of the most publicized architectural "events" in recent history. One wonders how he manages to describe the relative merits of the various proposals that surfaced in all these "competitions" (for the Master Plan; for the Memorial; for the Transit Hub...) without offending their creators; yet; if his evaluations seem fair and balanced to the reader; it because his evaluations are almost always based on solid; clearly-stated principles and historical facts. His most important thesis is the one that applies to the least appealing characteristic of the Ground Zero Development: its over-preponderance of office buildings on these 116 acres; at the expense of other possible uses; particularly residential. More mixed uses would have made for a much livelier and "human" environment. This; he shows us; is readily traced to the Port Authoritys relentless insistence that the program for the site be patterned after the original World Trade Center with its 10 million sq. ft of office space; plus the previous retail commercial space; and NO residential; all this because the Port Authority was determined to receive all the rent payments it had negotiated for the leases of World Trade Center and not one penny less. As Goldberger notes; only New Yorks Governor Pataki could have changed that equation; but Pataki did not want to risk any animosity that would disturb his election prospects; and only cared for Ground Zero as a background for his self aggrandizement. Lacking his support; no one; not even Bloomberg; managed to change the equation. This is too bad because; no matter how much or how little you like what you find there today; it is hard to dispute the fact that it would have been so much better with more intermixing of other uses; including residential. Perhaps the future will reverse that. NOTE: I wish the book had a lot more pictures - the ones in the paperback edition are really unsatisfactory.â€0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The author takes us through the design competitions with great verve. It is a gripping story of how ...By CustomerThis is a lively well-informed book about how it came to pass that the proposed Freedom Tower was never built and the tall structure presently on the site is the latest model of a commercial office building. The author takes us through the design competitions with great verve. It is a gripping story of how things did not get done and did get done in New York City. Essential reading for anyone interested in Ground Zero or; indeed; in the city.Peter3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Factual; informative; broad; and surprisingly objectiveBy Eugene Tenenbaum Reluctant ReaderWho would have expected from Paul Goldberger to produce such a restraint in personal opinion and - instead - factual; informative; surprisingly objective; and detailed history of the Ground Zeros struggle to rebuild the WTC in NYC? It is a story involving distribution of billions of dollars by those having executive power (combined with exemption from NY City building code) giving the politicians ("Emperor" Pataki; the Director of LMDC Roland Betts - a close friend and business partner of President George W. Bush; ...) opportunities to establish arbitrary restrictions and allowances regardless of the cost and usefulness; to arbitrarily select the participants of design process regardless of their merit; ability; capacity; and a public interest; etc. They created (initiated and developed) opportunities for favored participants in the design process to gain from their political and not entirely appropriate; but self-serving decisions; which - at the end - bit them; after confronted by a reality check; which exposed their selfishness and ignorance.Supplementing illustrations are in "Imagining Ground Zero" - ISBN: 0847826570.