The ancient Greeks were no strangers to the psychological impact of war; their myths are full of great warriors suffering from the unseen scars of battle. Every year, Athens held a dramatic contest in which the best playwrights competed. These festivals held religious and communal importance; the city gathered to celebrate its myths and learn from the suffering of its heroes-and if the plays that survive are any indication, its heroes were always suffering. As a community, the Athenians came together to discuss the terrible misfortunes that plagued the most noble of men.
In that spirit, the Department of Defense recently contracted a dramatic company, Theater of War, to perform one of Athens’ greatest authors’ works. The company will tour 50 military sites and stage readings of two of Sophocles’ plays, “Ajax” and “Philoctetes,” both of which feature a protagonist distraught by the ravages of war. The Pentagon hopes in this way to get servicemen and women talking about the psychological toll war can inflict.
This unusual approach to helping our soldiers deal with issues like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a great way of utilizing the arts for practical good. It’s a reaffirmation of what theater audiences already know: Good drama gets a community talking about difficult issues. At its best, the theater challenges us to think about the things we don’t ordinarily want to think about so that we can become more enlightened people.
This value isn’t restricted to audiences dealing with psychological issues; every human can learn from it. Nor is it an aspect peculiar to the theater; every art form engages its audience in a dialogue with itself and the world around it.
As SMU students, we have all kinds of opportunities to experience good art. We are located in a major metropolitan area with terrific museums, music, theater, and dance. The opening of the new Arts District provides even more exciting venues.
Even better, SMU houses one of the best arts schools in the nation. All SMU students can witness world-class art at little or no cost. Every weekend, there is a different art exhibit, dance performance, film screening, music recital, or play happening on campus. Many SMU students come to the Owen Fine Arts Center to enjoy the art available to them; even more are welcome. In addition, a number of Meadows classes are open to non-majors, giving the entire student body a chance to create its own art.
It’s time for a campus-wide reflection on the difficult issues facing mankind. The Greeks weren’t the only ones to learn from the visual and performing arts. We continue to be challenged and inspired by them and to find new uses for them today. Let’s further that tradition. Let’s start a movement.
