Tim Robbins has generously entrusted his play of DEAD MAN WALKING
to students and faculty all across this country. In doing so Tim is
forging a partnership with this generation to engage in a serious study and
reflection of the death penalty. This agreement to both produce the play and
examine the multi-layers of this major social issue reflects his deep understanding
of the power of the arts to open minds and hearts to the struggles of humanity
for justice and peace.
For the rights to produce the play Tim requires
that at least 2 academic departments in the school incorporate the issue of
the death penalty into their curriculum for at least a semester within that
year. Tim's sense of partnership is also reflected in his request that
the students and faculty give him feedback on the
play so that he can improve upon the telling of this powerful story.
The 65 schools that have participated in the play project since fall 2004
have more than met these requirements with creative approaches to presenting
the issue in a variety of classes, and by designing new forums for study and
discussion beyond the traditional classroom setting.
Students have generated initiatives that allow discussion of the death penalty
to go even beyond the campus community. A lively "discourse"
has emerged on an issue that has been hidden from the eyes, minds and hearts
of most Americans.
Learn more about Sister Helen’s
work and thought on the death penalty, take a look at some myths
and facts about capital punishment and check out the perspectives of people
on both sides of this passionate debate through a variety of links
and resources. Then, when we launch our discussion
area, join in the conversation with others. Help address some of the cutting-edge
questions that the death penalty raises in our day.
Broad discourse is especially important on the issue of the death penalty
because executions take place as almost secret rituals behind prison walls
with only a few witnesses, so most people are never going to get close to
state killings—unless the arts take them there. ~ Sister Helen
Prejean
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Dead Man Walking School Theatre Project.
All Rights Reserved.
About Discourse
There are many words that describe the exchange of thoughts, feelings, beliefs,
and ideas. However, of all the word choices -- conversation, discussion, debate,
deliberations, etc.--the one that most reflects the quality of exchange that
the Play Project seeks to evoke or provoke is the word "discourse".
Discourse reflects such qualities
of human engagement as respect, freedom, curiosity, openness, non-competitiveness,
trust, and simply the delight in the free flowing exchange of ideas and wisdom.
Discourse is more than a conversation because it reflects an engagement with
ideas which often calls for a response--an action to be taken.
Engaging in discourse is not like a debate, in which a lively exchange of
conflicting ideas/postions occurs but in which no resolution to the issues
debated occurs.
Discourse is an ongoing commitment to engagement with one aother and the issues
of our community for the sake of resolution.
The Death Penalty Discourse
Network's commitment to social change and justice-making work is best
reflected by its broad range of activities which stimulate a discourse on
a major justice issue of our day, the death penalty. A growing number
of community organizations and social change initiatives are recognizing the
need for a more engaging process in which the issues of our times are explored,
creative ideas are exchanged, and action emerges. One of these initiatives,
the DEAD MAN WALKING School Theatre Project, exemplifies the effort to engage
our citizens in this national discourse on the death penalty.