Essay 2; DV8 Review

DV8 is a physical theatre company formed by Lloyd Newson in 1986. It focuses on examining the roles and relationships of men and woman in society and interpreting them into physical theatre.

I have found they take a dystopian stance on society and their pieces symbolise this too shock the audience but to also teach the audience that the ideology of 'normalism' in society is not true and they reveal the truth on how society impacts peoples decisions like homosexuality or feminism which are two large political and social events in history.

Enter Achilles

A list of public reviews found here - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109734/ 

A detailed review from - http://www.markedbyteachers.com/as-and-a-level/psychology/enter-achilles-dv8-review-laura-mathis.html

When I watched this, I found that DV8 captured a group of 8 straight men drinking and interacting within the confines of a pub. The football on the tv, pints of beer and general banter between 'lads' all relate to the stereotypical view of men out drinking together. I feel DV8 have shown this stereotype in a great way using dance and vocal sounds like wolf whistling, laughing and cheering. By including these natural 'manly' sounds, it adds to the naturalism of the performance and to the stereotype increasing the crudeness of the motive DV8 wish the audience to understand.

They are joined by another man. This man to me symbolised homosexuality or someone that doesn't fit within the stereotype of the pub dweller. This man joined the pub and when he tried to fit in with the rest of the men but he was pushed away by them and bullied because he was different. Eventually some of the men started to accept him and dance with him but their was still men that didn't want to change or accept who he was. This too me shows how DV8 have captured how people are judged by their stereotypes and how society has made forced people to be 'sheep' and to follow others and not do as they're heart intends.

I feel the 'superman' was the Achilles. I think he was the 'hero of the Trogen war' and symbolised someone who is un affected by the people being sheep and following the Shepperd and is above society and is free to act as he wants, therefore he helps others to escape this stereotypical society and shows them how to be themselves.

The sex doll could have been used to represent sexism and how woman have been treated by men in history. I feel it showed how one mans view on woman is different from another. I thought that the man who was making love to the doll was lustful towards this 'female' and wanted her for sex. Once he makes love the doll is passed on to the large group of men. This made me feel like she was objectified as some one to have sex with and not a real person. I feel when the men were fighting over her they were showing greed. This shows how DV8 has successfully created a show targeting the negative problems in society.

To conclude, I enjoyed watching Enter Achilles as I thought the dance created movements which showed a really powerful meaning behind the negatives of society.