The Stages of Survival: Theater in Bosnia and Hercegovina During 1992-1995 War (Research Brief)

In the modern world, this communicative role of the theater that often encompassed a sense of the ritual, the spiritual, and the empathic purgation, has become one of mere amusement. In this capacity, the commercial aspects of the theater govern its success and viability. I realized, through my research, that the commercial side of the theater did not exist during the war. Theater existed not as entertainment, but rather as a communicative force, with a strong impact on the everyday lives of both the artists and the audience. In this period of crisis, theater regained its original role of being a crucial component of life. My research documents a time and a place in this world where theater played a significant role in the survival of a community.

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Davor Diklich, of Western New England College, was a 2002-03 Short-Term Travel Grants fellow.