Puppet Therapy
to be frequently expanded and revised
last update: 12/6/15
last update: 12/6/15
1.
Puppet Therapy is a self-help scheme contrived to make me a better and happier person through writing and performing puppet shows with my friends.
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Puppet Therapy is a Seattle-based puppet theater company.
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Puppet Therapy is a Seattle-based puppet theater company.
2.
“Puppets always have to try to be alive. It's their kind of ur-story onstage, that desperation to live.
An actor struggles to die onstage, but a puppet has to struggle to live. And in a way that's a metaphor for life.”
—Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler, Handspring Puppet Company
An actor struggles to die onstage, but a puppet has to struggle to live. And in a way that's a metaphor for life.”
—Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler, Handspring Puppet Company
3.
Each day is a series of small movements:
A noise is heard.
The arm moves laterally, the hand grips a small, rectangular object, which lights up; the thumb flicks sideways, then taps.
The noise ceases.
The torso raises, then swivels as the legs are positioned over the side of the bed; the feet make contact with the ground, and the body is hoisted into a standing position.
The leg is raised, bending at the knee joint, then extended forward; the foot is placed back upon the floor. Then the other leg is raised, bending at the knee joint, then extended forward; the other foot is placed upon the floor. This repeats for some time.
The arm is extended until the hand grasps a doorknob, then the arm is retracted, bending at the elbow joint, until the door is open. Walking (see above) resumes for 3 steps, the body pivoting on the 3rd step to turn 90 degrees to face the mirror.
The eyes face the body’s reflection.
A noise is heard.
The arm moves laterally, the hand grips a small, rectangular object, which lights up; the thumb flicks sideways, then taps.
The noise ceases.
The torso raises, then swivels as the legs are positioned over the side of the bed; the feet make contact with the ground, and the body is hoisted into a standing position.
The leg is raised, bending at the knee joint, then extended forward; the foot is placed back upon the floor. Then the other leg is raised, bending at the knee joint, then extended forward; the other foot is placed upon the floor. This repeats for some time.
The arm is extended until the hand grasps a doorknob, then the arm is retracted, bending at the elbow joint, until the door is open. Walking (see above) resumes for 3 steps, the body pivoting on the 3rd step to turn 90 degrees to face the mirror.
The eyes face the body’s reflection.
4.
In life, there are big mysteries and small mysteries. Really good art should be able to somehow address the small ones in a way that helps us deal with the big ones.
The big mysteries are things like:
Will my conscious experience of being end with the death of my body?
or:
Is it inevitable that human civilization will eventually alter the basic environmental conditions on Earth to the extent that human life is no longer possible?
And the small ones are more like:
Given that I am provided the technological ability to communicate, almost instantly, with basically everyone I have ever known, why do I spend so much time laying on my couch, drinking beer, and watching television to distract myself from my boredom, dissatisfaction, and loneliness?
But then:
In a human world marred by unfathomable cruelty, violence, waste, and injustice, set against the backdrop of an incomprehensible universe ruled by chaos and entropy, why is my own, perfectly banal unhappiness the thing I think about most?
The big mysteries are things like:
Will my conscious experience of being end with the death of my body?
or:
Is it inevitable that human civilization will eventually alter the basic environmental conditions on Earth to the extent that human life is no longer possible?
And the small ones are more like:
Given that I am provided the technological ability to communicate, almost instantly, with basically everyone I have ever known, why do I spend so much time laying on my couch, drinking beer, and watching television to distract myself from my boredom, dissatisfaction, and loneliness?
But then:
In a human world marred by unfathomable cruelty, violence, waste, and injustice, set against the backdrop of an incomprehensible universe ruled by chaos and entropy, why is my own, perfectly banal unhappiness the thing I think about most?
5.
“The experience of puppet therapy with adults has successfully provided a means to disarm client's resistance in a quick and easy fashion. There seems to be a regression in the service of the ego which facilitates adult play.
The ability to quickly unmask one's defenses allows the adult to reach core issues. Childhood issues and feelings can resurface readily. The therapeutic image of offering a hand up and out is germane in puppet therapy where the client's healing is literally at the counselor's fingertips.”
—Dr. Joanne F. Vizzini, Ph. D., LCPC, NCC <http://freedomthroughtherapy.com/puppet_therapy.html>
The ability to quickly unmask one's defenses allows the adult to reach core issues. Childhood issues and feelings can resurface readily. The therapeutic image of offering a hand up and out is germane in puppet therapy where the client's healing is literally at the counselor's fingertips.”
—Dr. Joanne F. Vizzini, Ph. D., LCPC, NCC <http://freedomthroughtherapy.com/puppet_therapy.html>