Habits make everyday life manageable, but can also become
obstacles and cause problems. The tendency to repeat old
patterns of behavior is a common problem for individuals and for
society as a whole. Unreflexive habitual actions constitute an
important aspect of social reproduction. In this article, two
questions are addressed: Why is change so hard to achieve? Can
Theatre of the Oppressed be used to promote change? A close
reading of the French sociologist Bourdieu in relation to Boal's
theatre methods is undertaken to answer these questions.
Bourdieu's concept of habitus serves to explain the persistence
of status quo; structural aspects are embedded in how we think
and act, and are also inscribed in the body. These unconscious
aspects of habitus are interesting in relation to theatre, where
the conscious use of body language, inner dialogue and action
are central. Looking at Boal's theatre methods in the light of
Bourdieu's concept of habitus, Theatre of the Oppressed clearly
has the potential to make soci