A Commentary on Alison Kobayashi’s “Say Something, Bunny!”

I found Alison Kobayashi’s work very innovative due to her ability to tell a story of family and life in such a unique style of performance that encourages audience participation. A core part of her creative process involved deep listening to recorded voices as a means of establishing character. In nost creative projects, it is the other way around and I enjoy the fact thay she goes against the norms or direction of the common process. She also used audience participation in a way that allows for the audience to passively become part of the story. Instead of vocally taking part, each audience member represents a character in the story. This method doesn’t require much from the audience while it still keeps  them engaged. 

What I still feel is the most interesting aspect of her project was how it began from using lost information or history from an obselete device. Usually projects like this one where research is done to discover the source of this information are seen from more of a historical approach. To see one told through the eyes of an artist was very surprising and eye-opening. I think this expands the meaming of performance and is a very fresh take on a well-known research process. 

The action of imposing limits during a creative process can be both restrictive and freeing. One may choose to limit their access to technology but you are then pushed to be creative in your means of working around it to reach the same goal. I think Alison is right where she said that “you don’t need the best equipment” to create something great. The fact that you can use lesser value or capable equipment to achieve the same result show’s your talent and capability as a creator. 

I want to compare this performance to the documentary film Cranberry Lake. I think that this film also uses the idea of avoiding authorities where they interview the students as well as the teachers of this school. I think while they are still learning, you get rich information from them through their first experiences amd passion for nature that is very unique and different than a professional in the field.