The Guiding Principles and Beliefs of Social Potluck
Social
Potluck is a belief more than anything else. It is the belief that the heart of
culture, art and society is located at the dinner table. Social Potluck states
that:
·
The
dinner table (or family/communal eating venue) is the most important
performance venue in the world.
·
All
people rehearse and perform themselves at the dinner table, in particular by
using the universal art form of storytelling.
·
These
mealtime performances do more to reinforce identity and communities than any
other influence.
·
Through
the communal act of eating performances change from the "official"
persona we present to the "unofficial" persona we are.
·
By
sharing meals and sharing stories with strangers or people from another culture
boundaries can be dissolved and understandings created.
·
While
both food and stories have become commodities the rewards for
sharing/trading/bartering them is far greater socially than in capital.
·
Everyone
has something to bring to the table
The
artists follow a few key rules in implementing the Social Potluck projects
·
Bartering for stories and food is integral to the process
·
The meals
must have a safe and casual atmosphere. If the mood
is not natural then participants will feel uncomfortable.
·
All stories must be included in the final performance in one way or
another.
·
Stories
can be stylized but the artists must keep to the
truth of the stories (no adding details)
·
The teller owns their stories. Once the project is over the artists cannot
use those stories for other purposes.
·
There is
always a degree of self exposure for the artists. The
artists must be themselves.
·
Note to
the artists: It is not about you (this is the hard
one). You are just the conduit for the stories. The whole process, the stories
and the performance is a celebration of the stories and the place. Stick to
this and people will love you for it.
·
How the
stories are interpreted depending on the participating
artists. Use your strengths to honour the stories.
