Bryan Doerries, author of "The Theater of War" and artistic director of the same name, discusses the profound healing power of ancient Greek tragedies. He explains how these stories, crafted by warriors for warriors, address human suffering and ethical dilemmas relevant today. The conversation highlights the transformative nature of performing these plays for veterans and those facing trauma, emphasizing catharsis and the communal bonds formed through shared experiences of grief and introspection.
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Tragedy's Purpose
Greek tragedies were created by and for warriors, serving civic, religious, and artistic purposes.
They aimed to communalize trauma and offer a shared experience of suffering.
insights INSIGHT
Fate and Responsibility
Tragedies explore the intersection of fate and personal responsibility, showing how characters' choices lead to their downfall.
Oedipus, for example, unknowingly fulfills a prophecy by trying to avoid it.
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Early Trauma's Impact
Oedipus' suffering stems from his abandonment as a child, highlighting the impact of early trauma.
This resonates with inmates who recognize the 'sins of the father' but maintain personal responsibility.
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In 'The Theater of War', Bryan Doerries discusses the relevance of ancient Greek tragedies in addressing contemporary issues such as PTSD, trauma, and social justice. Through his work with Theater of War Productions, Doerries demonstrates how these timeless stories can facilitate healing and community dialogue. The book combines personal narrative, social commentary, and the power of drama to cope with severe trauma.
When you think about ancient Greek tragedies, you probably think about people in togas spouting stilted, archaic language -- stories written by stuffy playwrights to be watched by snooty audiences.
My guest today argues that this common conception of Greek tragedies misses the power of plays that were in fact created by warriors for warriors, and which represent a technology of healing that's just as relevant today as it was two millennia ago. His name is Bryan Doerries and he's the author of the book The Theater of War, as well as the artistic director of an organization of the same name that performs dramatic readings of ancient tragedies for the military and other communities. Bryan and I begin our conversation with what tragedies are, what this civic, religious, and artistic form of storytelling was supposed to do, how it was created by war veterans for war veterans, and how a civilian classicist ended up putting on these plays for current and former members of our modern military. We discuss how the ancient Greek tragedies depicted the depth and spectrum of human suffering, the intersection of fate and personal responsibility, characters who belatedly discover their mistakes, and the fleeting chance of changing behavior in the light of such realizations. Bryan also explains how the tragedies may have been a form of training for young people on how to grapple with the moral ambiguities that mark adulthood. And throughout the show, we dig into how tragedies, by showing people they're not alone, getting them to confront uncomfortable realities together, and bridging divides, can serve as a transformative technology for collective healing, not only for military veterans, but anyone who's dealt with trauma, loss, and the general confusions and hardships of the human experience.
The Art of Manliness 