Post-cultural identity or post-imperialism: Culture as hybridised present in theatre for development

Abstract

Culture and language have always been an area that has undergone several discourse processes and discussions with variety of perceptions bandied. All  these are geared towards attempts to identify areas of convergence that will serve as possible arena for development. Incidentally, this area of discourse  is fraught with issues related the concept itself. The contact variously, the continuum of society makes it problematic to contextualise and utilise for such  end results. Several emergent structures, both in  consonance with an existing hegemonic (depending on the situation of this hegemonic, Western or  strictly domesticated (?)), or as a counter to the existing structural imperatives-cult groups, religious groups, tribal groups etc., impinges upon it gravely.  At the end of the day, there is a hybridised contextualisation that is imminently new, a phenomenon that, when accepted, would actualise desired goals  of development. Would we accept this 'new' phenomenon as a terrain that can engender development? Would the recipients of this new culturally  hybridised space or the artists that produce these, understand the contraption that is evolved or would the hegemonic play out in the end? This area  must be understood for it to serve as ‘real cultural’ and/or basis for a desired consciousness shift in Theatre for Development.