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Welcome Page—One.
Capture your reader’s at-
Info on tention Local with Crisis Centers– Two.
a colorful de-
scription of the crafts that
will be featured Frank Wedekind, Sater & Sheik—Three. sale. 19th Century German Schools— Four. 19th Century German Values & Morality—Four.
in Ayour Tool for Teachers, Students, Performers, Designers & Advocates of Live Theatre
Describe your location by landmark or area of town.
Our Production—Five. Costumes & Music—Six. Light, Set & Media—Seven. The Playhouse Cast—Eight. RAPE—Nine & Ten. SEXUALITY—Eleven & Twelve. SUICIDE—Thirteen & Fourteen. ABUSE– Fifteen & Sixteen. TEEN PREGNANCY– Seventeen & Eighteen. Resources & Further Readings– Nineteen
Guide Compiled by Christina Casella & Judith York Directed by Shannon Ivey
Field guide
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Two. Local and National Crisis and Help C enters
The mission of Child Advocates San Antonio (CASA) is to recruit, train, and supervise court-appointed volunteer Advocates who provide constancy for abused and neglected children and youth while advocating for services and placement in safe and permanent homes. 406 San Pedro Ave. San Antonio, TX. 78212 Phone: 210.225.7070 Fax: 210.225.7040
Every day tragedy meets someone who is victimized by sexual violence. The Rape Crisis Center for Children & Adults is there, providing immediate crisis care, support, and hope to those individuals and families afflicted by this horrific crime. David Coy Building 7500 US Hwy 90 West Building 2, Suite 201 San Antonio, Texas 78227 Office: (210)521-7273 24 hour hotline: (210)349-7273
Roy Maas’ Youth Alternatives, Inc. is committed to caring for children in crisis. Our promise to the community is that we will give every child and family seeking our services our complete dedication and attention. Based on the principles of respect and responsibility, it is our goal to give children a foundation of positive values, which will promote future success and end the cycle of abuse.
3103 West Ave. San Antonio, 78213, 210-340-8077
The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) is dedicated to the prevention of child abuse. Serving the United States, its territories, and Canada, the Hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with professional crisis counselors who, through interpreters, can provide assistance in 170 languages. The Hotline offers crisis intervention, information, literature, and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources. All calls are anonymous and confidential.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Since its inception, the Lifeline has engaged in a variety of initiatives to improve crisis services and advance suicide prevention.
Healthy Futures promotes and provides the strategies that work to prevent teen and unplanned pregnancy in San Antonio and Texas. 2300 W. COMMERCE ST., STE 203 SAN ANTONIO, TX 78207 (210) 223-4589
To the Educators, Students, Actors, Directors, Designers and any Art Advocate that may find themselves exploring this Field Guide:
Welcome to The Playhouse San Antonio Spring Awakening Field Guide! Here at The Playhouse San Antonio our mission is to produce high quality live theatre that inspires, educates, and entertains audiences of all ages. Our passion is to connect our community to the world at large by telling stories that reveal the truth of the human experience. In the spirit of this mission, we offer our audiences the opportunity to continue their experience at the theatre by providing events and interactive resources like this Field Guide. Its purpose can function in many ways—in the classroom, as a series of activities, a resource to artists, and a behind the scenes glance into this amazing, venturesome production. Our goal with this production is to educate and inform our audiences and to encourage a positive change relating to these themes in both the San Antonio community and the surrounding areas, while still providing a level of entertainment and expression through the art of live theatre. We suggest exploring the guide both before and after attending The Playhouse production of Spring Awakening running th th Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2:30pm from May 17 -June 9 , 2013. th
Our Education Night Saturday, May 18 , 2013, includes a Post Show Discussion and Talk Back. We encourage those attending to apply the knowledge and information gained from this Field Guide to stimulate and inspire the evening’s discussion. Spring Awakening as a show offers up many adult themes including, but not limited to sexuality, drug use, death, abuse, and teen pregnancy, all of which will be discussed in this Field Guide. Please use your discretion when applying these themes in a classroom or youth-related environment.
Thank you and Enjoy!
Three.
Steven Sater
Frank Wedekind was born in Hanover, Germany, but grew up in Switzerland, in a castle purchased by his father. Wedekind's father was a doctor, and his mother was an actress in the German Theatre in San Francisco prior to her marriage. Wedekind was the second eldest of six children. He had a secondary school education, and worked as a freelance journalist, in advertising, and as the private secretary of an art dealer before he began to make his living through the theatrical arts. With the art dealer, Wedekind traveled through France and England. Upon his return to Switzerland in 1888, Wedekind began to write and seek work as an actor, primarily in Munich. Wedekind took up writing at a time when Germany was experiencing a new flowering in the dramatic arts, but Wedekind did not belong to any one particular school. Wedekind said that he wrote Spring’s Awakening between 1890 and 1891, but it was not produced until 1906. Before he was able to get his own plays produced, Wedekind continued to seek out other writing and acting jobs. At one point he planned to start a traveling literary cabaret, but it is unclear whether this idea ever got past the planning stage. During this time, Wedekind also worked for the satirical journal Simplicissimus. In 1898, Wilhelm II objected to an article and cartoon that appeared in the publication. The article had been written by Frank Wedekind. The issue was confiscated, and a lawsuit was brought against Wedekind, the publisher, and the cartoonist. The publisher fled and remained in exile for five years. Wedekind and the cartoonist were sentenced to six and seven months in prison, respectively, for their attack on the German monarchy. Wedekind's time in prison, however, did not seem to play a major role in his life, a fact partially explained by Wedekind's low socioeconomic status at the time. It is possible that the six months he spent in prison, with bed and board secured, were extremely beneficial to Wedekind's writing career. In 1906, Wedekind married the actress Tilly Newes. That same year, Wedekind's repertory company premiered Spring’s Awakening. Wedekind did not receive more than personal recognition for his work until much later in life. He finally became famous in Germany for his play Earth Spirit, the uncensored version of which was not published until 1962. Other works include Gesammelte Werke (1920), Such is Life (1930), Earth Spirit (1914), Pandora's Box (1918), and Tragedies of Sex (1923). In modern times, Wedekind may be better known for the projects his work has inspired (Alban's Berg opera, Lulu, and G.W. Pabst's film version of Pandora's Box) than for his original works. Wedekind is considered one of the fathers of expressionism, but at the time that he wrote he did not fit into any particular school. His uniqueness may be at least a partial cause of his continued obscurity, despite critical views that "he may perhaps be given credit for being the first writer in any language to identify another obsessive feature of twentieth-century urban society: the part played in the consciousness of that society by sex and sexuality." Wedekind died from acute appendicitis in 1918. (Translator's Preface, Wedekind, Diary of an Erotic Life, 1990).
was born in Evansville, Indiana, and attended Washington University in St. Louis as an undergraduate. Due to an apartment fire, Sater was forced to jump from his balcony and damaged his spine, as well as several other limbs. The months spent recovering from his injuries and burns inspired Sater to teach himself ancient Greek and seriously pursue the arts, and he went on to study English literature at Princeton University. After completing his graduate program, Sater took a position with a New York literary agent, but continued to write plays on the side. For over a decade, multiple Grammy and Tony award-winning writer Steven Sater has worked with composer and singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik to create a number of successful projects spanning several mediums. Spring Awakening, a rock musical based on the 1891 German play of the same name, catapulted Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik to Broadway fame. Steven Sater's first Broadway musical earned them a number of prestigious awards, including Tony awards for Best Musical, Outstanding Score, and Outstanding Book of a Musical. Spring Awakening is slated to receive a movie adaptation with a screenplay written by Steven Sater, music composed by Duncan Sheik, and direction by Joseph McGinty Nicol.
Duncan Sheik is an American Grammy- and Tony-winning singer-songwriter and composer. Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Sheik's upbringing was split between his grandparents' home in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and his parents' in New Jersey. His grandmother, a graduate of Juilliard, taught him to play the piano and encouraged his musical development. Sheik graduated from the Eaglebrook School before attending Phillips Academy, Andover, in 1988. He subsequently studied semiotics at Brown University. After college, he moved to Daly City, a suburb near San Francisco where he started his music career. Sheik initially found success as a singer, most notably for his 1996 debut single "Barely Breathing". Years later, he expanded his work to include compositions for motion pictures and the Broadway stage, leading him to his involvement in the multiple award-winning musical Spring Awakening.
th
19 Century German Schools Germany in the 19th Century was at the forefront of educational reform. Germany was among the first countries to make education mandatory for children in 1794, and continued to develop methods for training teachers and for examining students that led to modern educational systems. In earlier years, Latin, Greek and the classics were the sole focus of education, but by the 1890’s a typical education for a boy included instruction in religion, German, mathematics, history, geography, and natural science. It was also important for students to have some physical education and arts education. Focus was shifting away from memorization as a learning method towards development of logical skills, but children still spent a lot of time learning passages—particularly in religious study—by heart. They would also have read from primers, books composed of snippets of literature designed to improve reading skills. They also would have read the classics of German literature as well as Shakespeare and works from Latin and Greek writers. They also did math problems, but the authorities discouraged science experiments. Because Germany was so progressive, a girl’s primary school education at this time was very similar. Though it was not quite so comprehensive as the boys’, their coursework included all of the same subjects and also training in domestic duties like needlework. There were even a precious few opportunities for girls to attend secondary school. These were mainly programs for training teachers. Should a girl be given the opportunity to attend secondary school, she would do so separately from boys for, while primary schools might have been co-educational, secondary schools saw students separated by gender. In the 1890’s, children were required to attend school until age 14. However, there were also rules about how many students could be in one classroom. A school with 80 or more students had to have two classrooms, and one with 120 or more had to have three. This was intended to give students a better education, but judging from the events in Spring Awakening , it probably also prevented some students from being educated at all. In the Steven Sater/Duncan Sheik musical of Spring Awakening, Herr Knochenbruch says, “the upper grade only hold sixty” (in Wedekind’s original text, it is Moritz who says “the upstairs classroom only holds sixty”). This would have had to do with how many students the school could afford to have. The original text indicated that they “have to fail seven” students because if they keep them, they will have to have an extra classroom and teacher (in the musical, there is only one student -- Moritz -- who would have to be failed. Because Moritz (and his classmates) are old enough not to be compelled to attend school, they can be kicked out. Being kicked out of primary school means that Moritz would not be allowed to attend secondary school or a university. This would have disqualified him from better-paying jobs in teaching, medicine, or religious service among other fields. Advanced Vocational Training
University
Technical/Trade School
Vocational Qualification
University Qualification Exam th 13 Grade & Prep
Training at Companies and parttime vocational schools
Secondary General School
Full-time vocational school
Vocational Upper Secondary School
Intermediate School
Continuation with Gymnasium
Grammar School (Gymnasiu
Primary School
Kindergarten
Comprehensive School
Four.
Values and Morality in 19th Century Germany When Queen Victoria assumed the British throne in 1837, she ushered in not only an era of great expansion for Britain but also a heightened morality that would characterize th the rest of the 19 century. She and Prince Albert sought to restore public respect for nobility that the loose morals and debauchery of earlier reigns had damaged. Due to the prominence of the British Empire, many of these values spread to continental Europe and America. Far from merely a British phenomenon, Victorian morality became the th model of 19 century ideals. With chastity and temperance as ideals, prudishness reached new heights. Prostitution, homosexuality, and masturbation were attacked as threats to the social order. Profanity became taboo; even words used in the Bible, such as “fornication,” were forbidden. Any work of literature employing sexual themes or language was attacked. Victorian morality condemned verbal or written communication of sexual feelings. The values of the adult world in Spring Awakening result in destruction: Moritz commits suicide; Wendla dies from a botched abortion; Martha suffers nightly from her father’s physical beatings and sexual advances, while Ilse’s dangerous adventures thrive on utter parental neglect.
Five.
Synopsis Provided by MTI
Our Production Director – Shannon Ivey “When I have children, I’ll let them be free. And they’ll grow strong and tall.” The Awakening of Spring: A Tragedy of Childhood was written by German Playwright, Frank Wedekind, between 1890-1891. This controversial (and often banned) play was then repurposed in 2006 into the Tony award winning musical Spring Awakening by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater. It’s been over a hundred years since Wedekind’s play was first produced in Berlin, and yet the issues of puberty, sexuality, rape, child abuse, incest, homosexuality, suicide, and abortion are all still deeply relevant, deliciously provocative, and categorically polarizing. Regardless of where we stand politically, spiritually, or morally, these issues are also killing our kids at an alarming rate. “Every year 3.3 million reports of child abuse are made in the United States involving nearly 6 million children (a report can include multiple children). The United States has the worst record in the industrialized nation – losing five children every day due to abuserelated deaths. “ - ChildHelp “Suicide is the leading cause of death among Gay and Lesbian youth nationally. It has been conservatively estimated the 1,500 Gay and Lesbian youth commit suicide every year.” - SPEAK “Suicide rates amongst youth ages 15-24 have increased more than 300% since the 1950's.” - SPEAK “683,000 forcible rapes occur every year; which equals 56,916 per month; 1,871 per day; 78 per hour; and 1.3 per minute.” - Crime Victims Services
It’s Germany, 1891. The beautiful young Wendla explores her body and asks her mother where babies come from. Elsewhere, the brilliant and fearless young Melchior defends his buddy Moritz -- a boy so traumatized by puberty he can’t concentrate on anything. One afternoon in the woods, Wendla and Melchior discover a desire unlike anything they’ve ever felt. SPRING AWAKENING explores the confusion and desperation that ensue when the onrushing tide of hormones meets the ignorance of children. SPRING AWAKENING celebrates the unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood with a power, poignancy, and passion that you will never forget. This celebration of rebellion provides the perfect opportunity to feature performers of all types, as well as the flexibility to creatively use costumes, set pieces, and lighting. Featuring a pop-rock score, this is an ideal show for talented vocalists with strong acting abilities.
Our youth are in grave danger. The time to act is now. Journey with us as we put a face to an issue, a girl to a statistic, and a parent to a choice. Stand beside us as we rage against the overwhelming darkness that is claiming lives of our precious children. Sing with us as we hope for a better world that is full of “the wonder of Purple Summer.” Shannon Ivey Founder, Theatre for Change Assistant Professor, TLU Dramatic Media Photo by Dwayne Green
Six.
Costume Design Costume Designer Jodi Karjala
From Jodi: “I tried designing dresses that have a period feel appropriate for a young girl, but then gave them a more modern edge with length (above or just below the knee), lower necklines, softer/flowing fabric…. I would like for all of the fabric to be black/white/gray. Their world is so dismal. So while the style of their clothes is youthful I'd like for the color palette to be plain. That said, I'd like to find patterns - stripes, plaids, florals - that work within this color palette.”
The Music
In Steven Sater’s A Purple Summer – Notes on the Lyrics of Spring Awakening, Sater himself provides insight into his groundbreaking and boundary-pushing lyrics. The music in Spring Awakening is unlike music in traditional musical theatre. It does not push the plot forward. It provides an escape and elaborates on the actions that have already been described or shown in the play. “Those you’ve known, And lost, still walk behind you. All Alone, Their song still seems to find you.” -“Those You’ve Known”
Sater goes on to say: “With this song, we completed our transformation of Wedekind’s original story…Those we have loved and known will never depart from us, so long as we determine to hold on to them.” Ivey has chosen to create a world of technology and modernism in the songs to tie in social issues we face today. Very much in the vein of Sater and Sheik, through the music, The Playhouse hopes to connect you to these very current, very real stories.
Seven.
Light, Set & Media
We live in a world that consumes media content every waking second of the day; streaming video has satiated our collective consciousness and has become the favored way by which to communicate and tell story. Undoubtedly, technology has become the language of our youth. The script for Spring Awakening is inherently broken up into two worlds: 1. The provincial, late-1800’s world of the text, which is driven by adult oppression. 2. The provocative, present-day world of the music, which is driven by youth, freedom, and love. It is within the music that media must have an obvious, subtle voice and come alive in The Playhouse’s production of Spring Awakening. Shannon Ivey Founder, Theatre for Change
Set Designer Terry Price’s designs take shape on the Russell Hill Roger’s stage! The white spandex stretched across the iron ‘tree’ serves as a projection screen for David Legore’s Media Design!
CHECK BACK AS THE SHOW CONTINUES TO DEVELOP!
Assistant Professor, TLU Dramatic Media
Eight.
Q u e s t
Our Cast of
Spring Awakening Questions for the Cast, Crew, Designers or Director of this Production? Email: talkback@theplayhousesa.org Twitter: @ThePlayhouseSA or @PlayhouseDaniel Facebook: facebook.com/theplayhousesa
Nine. Sexual Assault Numbers Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted There is an average of 207,754 victims (age 12 or older) of sexual assault each year Reporting to Police 54 % of sexual assaults are not reported to the police 97% of rapists will never spend a day in jail About the Victims 44% of victims are under age 18 80% are under age 30 1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime 17.7 million American women have been victims of attempted or completed rape About 3% of American men—or 1 in 33—have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime 2.78 million men in the U.S. have been victims of sexual assault or rape
RAPE Myth: Rape and sexual assault are about sexual attraction and gratification. Fact: Rape and sexual assault are all about control and domination. The primary motive displayed by most convicted rapists is aggression, dominance, and anger, NOT sex. Sex is used as a weapon to inflict violence, humiliation, and conquest on a victim.
Myth: A healthy person can resist being raped or sexually assaulted. Fact: According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 out of every 6 adult women has been a victim of rape, and approximately 92,700 men are raped in the U.S. each year. Healthy and strong people are raped every day. Rape victims are doctors, lawyers, nurses, military personnel, cooks, accountants, students—anyone and everyone could be vulnerable to rape or sexual assault.
Myth: When it comes to sex, men can be provoked to “a point of no return.” Fact: Men are physically able to stop at any point during sexual activity. Rape is not an act of impulsive, uncontrollable passion; it is a premeditated act of violence. Research shows that 50% of rapes are planned. Rape is not about passion or uncontrollable lust. It’s about control over another person and it’s an opportunistic act of violence.
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network www.domesticviolenceservices.com/rapemythsand facts.html Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault www.ICASA.org
U.S. Department of Justice. 2003 National Crime Victimization Survey. 2003 National Institute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences of Violence Against Women Survey. 1998
Myth: If a woman goes to her date’s room on the first date, it implies she is willing to have sex.
Fact: Nothing is ever implied. Date rapes comprise 50 to 75% of all reported rapes. The best way to prevent a bad situation is to communicate.
Myth: Rape is usually violent and involves a stranger. Fact: Actually around 73% of all rapes and 90% of rapes on college campuses are committed by someone the victim knows. Many rapes involve force or the threat of force, but some rapes are committed when the victim is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or even asleep! Sex against someone’s will is rape under any circumstances.
Myth: When a woman dresses provocatively, she’s asking for trouble. Fact: No woman's dress or behavior gives someone the right to sexually assault her. Rapists look for easy, vulnerable targets. Thinking that women provoke attacks against them by the way they dress transfers blame from the perpetrator to the victim. Research shows that this particular myth helps others feel better because they think that rape couldn’t happen to them.
"Rape". Just the sound of the word flying out of your mouth, the harsh consonants and quick finality of such a short yet powerful word, gives the impression of something inherently bad. I can't imagine what a rape victim must feel. Sex should be a key, beautiful part of the human experience. But rape turns sex into a violation of the human spirit, a violation that is empty of love and light. When I first saw the symbolic rape scene in Spring Awakening, I felt my pulse quicken and the only thing I could write in my notebook was the word "brutal." It took every ounce of self-restraint not to shout.
Ten.
RAPE Rehtaeh Parsons, a 17-year-old from Nova Scotia, died April 2013 in a hospital, after attempting suicide. Her mother stated that a rape in 2011 and subsequent bullying led to her daughter's suicide. In 2011, Rehtaeh Parsons attended a party where she consumed enough vodka to not remember most of the evening. She recalls throwing up out of a window. Four boys then raped her; one of the boys allegedly yelled, "take a picture, take a picture." According to Rehtaeh's mother, "That picture began to circulate in her school and community three days later." The picture prompted a torrent of online bullying as well as verbal abuse at her school. When Rehtaeh confessed the incident to her mother a few days later, they called emergency health services as well the police. After a year of investigations, the police told her it was a case of "he said, she said," without enough evidence to press charges. They told the family that though she was underage, the photographs were not a criminal issue. The family moved from Cole Harbour to Halifax. Leah Parsons reports that her daughter attempted to maintain high spirits, but was depressed: "Every text, every negative thing she would read to me. It was hard. She tried and she kept trying... She was never left alone. Her friends turned against her, people harassed her, boys she didn't know started texting her and Facebooking asking her to have sex with them since she had had sex with their friends. It just never stopped." Rehtaeh admitted herself to a hospital in March because of suicidal thoughts. She attempted suicide on Thursday and was taken off life support on Sunday. Parsons has created a memorial page for her daughter, where she wrote: "She made my life complete. When Rehtaeh was born, I dedicated everything to her and promised her the world. Others in this world took that away from her." [http://gawker.com/5994168/nova-scotia-teen-commits-suicide-after-rape-bullying]
Ask Yourself. What part did social media play in this case? How would things have been different if pictures weren’t taken? How do you feel about the way Nova Scotia authorities handled this case? How does this story reflect the same cases of rape in Spring Awakening? What has changed?
Eleven.
SEXUALITY What is BDSM? BDSM is a compound acronym for Bondage, Discipline, Dominance/submission, and Sadomasochism. Generally, it is used as an umbrella term for a consenting adult relationship that has some inherent inequality. For example, in a Dominant/submissive relationship, the Dominant person holds authority over the submissive person. Because of the inequality of these roles, it is important that both adults have discussed, negotiated, and consented to their roles.
BDSM Facts
The term sadomasochist is the combination of the title of Donatien Alphonse Francois, the Marquis de Sade, author of several fictions and commentaries in the late 18th century that combined erotocism and violence and the name of Leopold von Sacher-Macoch the author of “Venus in Furs” in the mid 19th century, an autobiographical fiction depicting the service of a slave to his cruel mistress. Mutual consent is what distinguishes BDSM from abuse and assault, just as consent distinguishes sex from rape. 5-10% of the U.S. engages in SM for sexual pleasure on at least an occasional basis. Only 14% of the community is between 18 and 25. The group between 26 and 40 make up the biggest percentage (47%). Between the ages 41 and 59 make up approximately 37% of the demographic. Respondents in the survey used as a basis for these statistics indicated that at least 57% of them had at least some college education or had a college degree. A further 20% have post-graduate education as opposed to only 12% of the respondents that had no education above high school level. Not that education is the only indicator of intelligence but this shows a level of curiosity and accomplishment in many members of this community. 14% of men and 11% of women have had some sexual experience with sadomasochism. The historical origins of BDSM are obscure. During the ninth century BC, ritual flagellations were performed in Artemis Orthia, one of the most important religious areas of ancient Sparta, where the Cult of Orthia, a preolympic religion, was practiced. Here ritual flagellation called diamastigosis took place on a regular basis.
The song "The Word of Your Body" is originally sung by Melchior and Wendla, but the reprise features Hanschen and Ernst. Is the love the the two boys feel for each other any less real than that felt by Melchior and Wendla? This love generates the same, beautiful song in both pairs . And what really affects you isn't the gender of the people singing, it's what they are singing! Can a love that produces such beautiful music be "unnatural" or "evil"? Perhaps the play is commenting that love can exist anywhere, between any people, even in the darkest of places.
[http://www.transcendingboundaries.org/resources/bdsm-101.html]
Homosexuality In Spring Awakening, Hänschen and Ernst tip toe into a world of desire and give into their love for one another. Today, our society is learning to become accepting and tolerant of all sexualities and some states are honoring legal same-sex marriages. 19th century Germany was a different world. Men married women, and women married men. A Gallup report published in October 2012 by the Williams Institute reported that 3.4% of US adults identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Minorities were more likely to identify as non-heterosexual; 4.6% of blacks, 4.0% of Hispanics and 3.2% of whites. Younger people, aged 18-29, were three times more likely to identify as LGBT than seniors over the age of 65, the numbers being 6.4% and 1.9%, respectively. In The Playhouse’s production of Spring Awakening the relationship between Hänschen and Ernst is genuine and real. This was an important choice to make for our production, as it is also the only healthy and safe relationship portrayed in the show.
Twelve.
SEXUALITY Gay rights movement born in 19th century Germany, scholar says Same-sex erotic relationships are as old as humanity, but our modern understanding of what it means to be homosexual— and the earliest gay rights movement—started in nineteenth-century Germany, according to an article by historian Robert Beachy from Goucher College. The article, "The German Invention of Homosexuality," is published in a recent issue of The Journal of Modern History. Beachy's book on the subject, Gay Berlin: Birthplace of a Modern Identity (Knopf), is due out next year. According to Beachy, modern conceptions of homosexuality began, ironically, with an anti-sodomy law. When the German Empire was unified in 1871, the Imperial Criminal Code included a law prohibiting sexual penetration of one man by another. Questions about what types of activity should fall under the law spurred a sustained public inquiry into the nature of samesex eroticism and sexuality in general. "As such, [the law] created the all-important context and stimulant for the evolution of the world's most expansive science of homosexuality," Beachy writes. And from that science emerged key components of the modern view of homosexuality, including "the understanding of erotic same-sex attraction as a fundamental element of the individual's biological or psychological makeup," Beachy explains. This new view of same-sex love was pioneered by German doctors who published early case studies of homosexuals in the 1850s. German psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing released the first edition of his hugely influential Psychopathia Sexualis in 1886, which included multiple case studies of homosexuals that supported this new position. Through his work, KrafftEbing became a vocal opponent of the German anti-sodomy law, stating that homosexuality "should not be viewed as a psychic depravity or even sickness." A remarkably free German press enabled these ideas to spread outside the scientific literature into popular books and encyclopedias, Beachy says. "The encyclopedia entries suggested directly or implicitly that same-sex eroticism was a naturally occurring if uncommon phenomenon that affected a small percentage of the general population," he writes. "The love that dared not speak its name, as Oscar Wilde put it, had many names, at least in German." It was also during this time that world's first political organization advocating gay rights, the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee (Wissenschaftlich-humanitäres Komitee, or WhK), was formed. The WhK undertook a massive effort to reform the anti-sodomy law, mailing "enlightenment brochures" to thousands of politicians, religious leaders, doctors, and teachers and collecting thousands of signatures on petitions opposing the law. The movement ultimately failed to dislodge the law, and German scientific inquiry into sexuality came to an abrupt end with the rise of the Nazis in the 1930s. Nevertheless, Beachy argues, it was that law—and the inquiry and activism it inspired— that helped the modern understanding of homosexuality to take root. Robert Beachy, "The German Invention of Homosexuality." The Journal of Modern History 82:4 (December 2010).
Ask Yourself. What were your preconceived thoughts on how homosexuality was viewed in 19th Century Germany? Why? What do you think the consequences would be if the characters Hänschen and Ernst came out then? What about now? How is the love between Hänschen and Ernst different from other examples of love in the show? How similar?
Thirteen.
SUICIDE Teen Suicide Numbers 19.3% of high school students have seriously considered killing themselves 14.5% of high school students made actual plans for committing suicide 900,000 youth planned their suicides during an episode of major depression
Teen Suicide Warning Signs: •
NCSL (National Conference of State Legislatures)
While suicide does not seem terribly common, it is nevertheless a major cause of death. The CDC reports that it is the 3rd leading cause of death for youth ages 15 to 24. The only two things that cause more death among teenagers are accidents (usually in the car) and homicide. Even younger children do not escape. Suicide is the 4th leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 10 and 14.
Teen suicide is a very real issue today in the United States. It is important to recognize the fact that the suicide rate amongst teenagers is on the rise. In order to prevent teen suicide, it is vital to recognize what leads to it, and then treat the causes. www.teensuicide.us While there is no way to reliably figure the exact ratio of attempted suicides to completed suicides, the National Institute of Mental Health believes that as many as 25 suicides are attempted for each one that is completed. Understanding that a teen suicide attempt is a call for help is essential in preventing a completed attempt later. Teen suicide statistics draw a correlation between gender and suicide. It is interesting to note that there are some very clear indications that suicide is different for males and females, attempted and completed suicides alike. For example, males are four times more likely to die from suicide than females. However, teen girls are more likely than teen boys to attempt suicide. So, even though teenage girls make more attempts on their own lives than teenage boys, the boys are more likely to actually complete a suicide attempt. They do not allow for intervention, and are less likely to “call for help” through a suicide attempt. www.teensuicide.us
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Causes of Teen Suicide
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There are several different factors that may lead a teenager to take his/her life, but the most common is depression. Feelings of hopelessness and anxiety, along with feeling of being trapped in a life that one can’t handle, are very real contributors to teen suicide. In some cases teenagers believe that suicide is the only way to solve their problems. The pressures of life seem too much to cope with, and some teenagers look at suicide as a welcome escape. Other factors that may contribute to teen suicide include: Divorce of parents Violence in the home Inability to find success at school Feelings of worthlessness Rejection by friends or peers, including bullying Substance abuse Death of someone close to the teenager The suicide of a friend or someone s/he “knows” online
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Disinterest in favorite extracurricular activities Problems at work and losing interest in a job Substance abuse, including alcohol and drug (illegal and legal drugs) use Behavioral problems Withdrawing from family and friends Sleep changes Changes in eating habits Begins to neglect hygiene and other matters of personal appearance Emotional distress brings on physical complaints (aches, fatigues, migraines) Hard time concentrating and paying attention Declining grades in school Loss of interest in schoolwork Risk taking behaviors Complains more frequently of boredom Does not respond as before to praise
Fourteen.
From Spring Awakening Act I, Scene 10
SUICIDE
FRAU GABOR
Dear Herr Stiefel(Thinks again) Moritz. I’ve spent the entire day thinking about your note. Truly, it touched me, it did, that you’d think of me as a friend. Of course, I was saddened to hear that your exams came off rather less well than you’d hoped, and that you will not be promoted, come fall. And yet, I must say straightaway, that fleeing to America is hardly the solution. And Even if it were, I cannot provide the money you request. . . . . You would do me wrong, Herr Stiefel, to read into my refusal any lack of affection. On the contrary, as Melchior’s mother, I truly believe it to be my duty to curb this momentary loss of . . . . . Should you like, I am ready to write to your parents. I will try to convince them that no one could have worked harder last semester, and also that too rigorous a condemnation of your current misfortune could have the gravest possible effect on . . . . . Still, Herr Stiefel, one thing in your letter disturbed me. Your—what shall we call it?— Veiled threat that, should escape not be possible, you would take your own life. . . . . My dear boy, the world is filled with men—businessmen, scientists, scholars, even— who have done rather poorly in school, and yet gone on to brilliant careers. Consider, for example, that rare and estimable essayist, Leopold Habebald— . . . . . In any case, I assure you that you present misfortune will have no effect on my feelings for you, or on your relationship with Melchior. . . . . So, head high, Herr Steifel. And do let me hear from you soon. In the meantime, I am unchangingly and most fondly yours, Fanny Gabor.
Begin a discussion about the tragedy of teen suicide, its causes, and warning signs. Discuss other issues that were of concern to Moritz that might be reasons for him contemplating taking his own life. It has more to do with merely failing his exams and not being promoted. What are the pressures that make him feel that taking his life is the only and easiest way out? Write letter to Moritz trying to convince him not to take his life. They should let him know that they care and are concerned about him. They could offer him help and friendship, and encourage him to seek some help. Stress should be on positive possibilities and solutions and not being critical or judgmental.
When a person decides to take their own life, not only do we lose that person in the most heartbreaking way, we lose their potential. We lose everything that person could have offered to the world and the years they could have spent carrying out those things. And it's final; suicide is an ultimate finality. And if we don't do everything we can to help those who are lost in that dark place, then we will spend the time after they are gone in bitter regret.
Fifteen.
ABUSE Federal legislation lays the groundwork for states by identifying a minimum set of acts or behaviors that define child abuse and neglect. The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), (42 U.S.C.A. §5106g), as amended by the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003, defines child abuse and neglect as, at minimum:
Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; or An act or failure to act, which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.
Child abuse can include: physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, abandonment, and/orsubstance abuse. www.childwelfare.gov/can
Child Abuse Numbers More than 1.25 million children (an estimated 1,256,600 children) experienced maltreatment during the NIS–4 study year (2005–2006). This corresponds to one child in every 58 in the United States. 44% were abused (an estimated total of 553,300), while 61% were neglected (an estimated total of 771,700). The NIS classifies children in every category that applies, so the components sum to more than 100%. 58% of the abused children experienced physical abuse (an estimated total of 323,000). 24% were sexually abused (an estimated 135,300), while 27% were emotionally abused (an estimated 148,500). 47% of neglected children experienced educational neglect (an estimated 360,500 children), 38% were physically neglected (an estimated 295,300 children), and 25% were emotionally neglected (an estimated 193,400 children). Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect (NIS – 4) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) and the Children’s Bureau
The Effects of Child Sexual Abuse on the Adult Survivor Any sexual contact, covert or overt, between a child and a trusted individual that damaged the child, whether these contacts included suggestive remarks, pornography, fondling or acts of sexual aggression or torture, needs to be dealt with assertively. These contacts scar virtually all facets of victims' lives since we are left with little or no self-esteem. At least one out of five boys and one out of three girls will be abused before they reach the age of eighteen. The child’s emotional growth will be arrested at the age of the first attack, and we have found the surviving victim won't begin to work on recovery until adulthood, if then. Boys, as well as girls, are victims of child sexual abuse. Abusers come in all shapes and sizes. Many perpetrators were perceived by the child to be an authority, including: father, grandfather, mother, brother, uncle, friend of the family, aunt, teacher -- unfortunately the list is endless. Some of the social maladjustments arising from incest are: alcoholism, drug addiction, self-injury, prostitution, promiscuity, sexual dysfunction and suicide. Eating or sleeping disorders, migraines, back or stomach pains are just a few of the serious physical consequences that we may suffer. Survivors of Incest Anonymous http://www.siawso.org
Sixteen.
ABUSE Spring Awakening shows that child abuse isn't confined to physical abuse. It can also be the emotional, unseen torture inflicted on a child. Not only that, the failure to remedy child abuse can prove to be just as harmful. In the show, Melchior's mother prefers to live in blissful ignorance then help Moritz. The signs are explicitly clear that Moritz is self-harmful, but she chooses to ignore it. This kind of attitude is cruelly detrimental to those who are unable to help themselves.
Beginning a Discussion about Child Abuse and Neglect From Spring Awakening Act I, Scene 8 (Wendla and Melchior talk about the abusive situation in Martha’s home) WENDLA I dreamed I was a clumsy little girl, who spilt my father’s coffee. And when he saw what I had done, he yanked out his belt and whipped me. MELCHIOR Wendla, that kind of thing doesn’t happen anymore. Only in stories. WENDLA Martha Bessell is beaten almost every evening—the next day, you can see the welts. It’s terrible. Really, it makes you boiling hot to hear her tell it. Lately, I can’t think about anything else. MELCHIOR Someone should file a complaint.
Begin a discussion with about how we think child abuse is viewed by society has changed since the 1800’s. End the discussion by asking students if they understand that they are responsible for reporting child abuse. From Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS): Texas law says anyone who thinks a child, or person 65 years or older, or an adult with disabilities is being abused, neglected, or exploited must report it to DFPS. A person who reports abuse in good faith is immune from civil or criminal liability. DFPS keeps the name of the person making the report confidential. Anyone who does not report suspected abuse can be held liable for a misdemeanor or felony. Time frames for investigating reports are based on the severity of the allegations. Reporting suspected abuse makes it possible for a family to get help. Two Ways to Report Abuse
1-800-252-5400 - Call our Abuse Hotline toll-free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, nationwide. TxAbuseHotline.org - Report with our secure website and get a response within 24 hours.
Seventeen.
TEEN PREGNANCY Wendla, who knows nothing of pregnancy or sexuality in general, falls for Melchior who has an unusual knowledge of sex comparative to his classmates. Wendla's mother has told Wendla that pregnancy happens when two people are married and in love, so Wendla is confused to find she is pregnant when she never loved Melchior. Her death from a botched abortion is labeled as “anemia� and the cycle of uninformed youth continues.
Nationwide statistics revealed in 2012 that the teen pregnancy rate hit a 40-year low in 2008. In 2008, the national teen pregnancy rate was 68 pregnancies per 1,000 teens, a 42 percent decline from the peak rate of 117 pregnancies per 1,000 teens in 1990. With lower pregnancy rates, abortion rates dropped, too. In 2008, the teen abortion rate hit 17.8 abortions per 1,000 women, the lowest since the legalization of abortion in 1973. State-by-state data is harder to come by, which is why the latest report comes out a year after the nationwide data. The results suggest that while the overall picture is positive, a teen's chances of becoming pregnant vary widely from state to state. The highest pregnancy rate as of 2008 was in New Mexico, where 93 out of 1,000 teens became pregnant. Mississippi, Texas, Nevada, Arkansas and Arizona rounded out the top six states for teen pregnancy. In the lowest-ranked state, New Hampshire, only 33 out of 1,000 teens became pregnant, the data revealed. Vermont, Minnesota, North Dakota and Massachusetts followed with similarly low rates. Because of abortion and miscarriage, pregnancies don't always result in birth. The highest teen birthrate in the country was in Mississippi, where 55 out of 1,000 teens became mothers in 2010. (Birthrate data is available more quickly than overall pregnancy data, so these statistics are more current.) The lowest teen birthrate was in New Hampshire, with 16 out of 1,000 births per teen. The teen abortion rate was highest in New York, with 37 abortions per 1,000 teen women in 2008. It was lowest in South Dakota, where five out of every 1,000 teens got an abortion that year. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/25/pregnancy-rates-by-state_n_2761177.html
TEEN PREGNANCY
Eighteen.
Does the media glorify teen pregnancy? Consequences? What consequences? Do you think it prompts positive or negative conversation? By paying the Teen Mom cast more than most of us make in a year, does MTV reward irresponsible behavior? Or are they helping in educating the populace? The show realistically depicts the personal problems teen moms can experience, but does it foster the notion that you can be a star through pregnancy?
Check back for Daniel the Intern’s Input!
Can abstinence based and comprehensive approaches to sex education be combined? Some people have argued that is it possible to combine the main elements of both comprehensive and abstinence based approaches to sex education in one approach. These people point out that supporters of both abstinence based and comprehensive approaches share the view that sex education plays an important role in HIV prevention and both approaches emphasize the potential benefits of delaying having sexual intercourse in terms of helping young people avoid HIV, other STIs and unintended pregnancies. On the basis of this it has been argued that abstinence based and comprehensive approaches can be reconciled into one inclusive approach which is sometimes called abstinence plus. http://www.avert.org/abstinence.htm
Discuss!
Nineteen.
RESOURCES & FURTHER READINGS
Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind A Purple Summer Notes on the Lyrics of Spring Awakening by Steven Sater The History of Sexuality, Vol. I by Michel Foucault Gender Trouble by Judith Butler A Critical Introduction to Queer Theory by Nikki Sullivan Female Masculinity by Judith Halberstam Feminism is for Everybody by Bell Hooks Queer America: A People’s GLBT History of the United States by Vicki Eaklor Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women and the Rest of Us by Kate Bornstein As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl by John Colapinto The Trouble with Normal: Sex, Politics, and the Ethics of Queer Life by Michael Warner Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls by Rachel Simmons Sexuality (Key Ideas) by Jeffrey Weeks Sex/Gender: Biology in a Social World by Anne Fausto-Sterling Risky Lessons: Sex Education and Social Inequality by Jessica Fields Histories of Sexuality by Stephen Garton The Gender/Sexuality Reader: Culture, History, Political Economy edited by Roger Lancaster and Micaela di Leonardo