Theatrical performance as a link of social reparation and dignity from the rescue of intergenerational historical memory

Abstract

Studying performative acts involves taking a critical look at what it means to assert one’s dignity as human beings—from the collective acknowledgment of barbarism to the quest for liberation. This research draws on the theory of postmemory, a concept developed by Marianne Hirsch, and the contributions of social psychology as articulated by Ignacio Martín-Baró. These frameworks have been used to analyze the intergenerational ties within the resettled communities of northeastern Chalatenango to study the psychosocial impact caused by the armed conflict, in accordance with the psycho-intercommunity processes that have become evident in the post-conflict period, through the recognition and implementation of the arts, specifically theater. The results showed that, indeed, theatrical performance has activated processes that have contributed to social reparation and the restoration of dignity for and among victims. In other words, theater has become a tool of resistance used to denounce injustices and rebuild the damaged social fabric. Through theater, communities establish affective intergenerational communication, consolidate a sense of community belonging, establish a public political stance, and mobilize their capacities for agency.