Fulbright awarded to PhD candidate, James Hesla

James Hesla, PhD Candidate in Theatre and Performance Studies, was recently awarded a Fulbright Grant for graduate research in Indonesia during the 2013-14 academic year.

Drawing on his background in the European tradition of clowning and experimental Indonesian theatre praxis, Hesla will consider how clowning in Bali has evolved in response to contemporary influences as diverse as tourism, terrorism, government support, and changing socio-economic conditions.  Clowns and clowning are often a featured part of both sacred and secular performances on Bali and serve a vital social and cultural function.  The masked clown figure offers a particularly rich site to explore contemporary society, because clowns make satirical commentary on topical social and political issues, permitting audiences to laugh at critiques that they may share but would not be able to voice.  By focusing on clowns and clowning in traditional Balinese masked dance-drama, Hesla will add a cross-cultural comparison to his dissertation research on contemporary clown theatre practice in the United States.