Scenario #2
Working with stories 2: Punch or Political puppet theatre
Aims / objectives
The aim is to show in the playful way of puppet theatre, suitable for children, how manipulation and seductiveness work and how to counteract them.
Description of the method
One of the characters taking part in the performance is overdrawn as a populist who tries to become president through lies and deceit. At the same time, the main character of the play, Punch, and his friends see through these lies and try to stand up against the populist. Punch, in full Punchinello, Italian Pulcinella, is a hook-nosed, humpbacked character – the most popular of marionettes and glove puppets. He is known in many countries and cultures under different names like Guignol in French or Kasperl in German.
For more information, see: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Punch-puppet-character.
Concrete story: Punch appears and asks the children in his usual manner, “Have you heard of the Populistifax? He would like to become president. He lies like a trooper and would like to decide everything all by himself. He wants to throw all those who contradict him out of the country. Whoever does not follow him, he wants to disappear. Oh, wait, kids. Here he comes.”
Populistifax: “Hello children! I'm Populistifax. I’m so beautiful and smart. I have a good, good heart. Everyone can see that easily. A real superman, that’s me. I only like people who clap for me. Those who don’t clap, they get a slap. Whoever criticises me gets squashed like a bumblebee. But hush, be quiet. First the people have to elect me. Afterwards, they need to respect me – as their president for all time. That’s a nice rhyme.”
Afterwards, the Populistifax tries to hand out sweets to get votes. He lies about Punch and others and tells evil stories. The scenes can be played as videos or played directly. The children are then asked what they think about the Populistifax. Questions:
- What does Populistifax want to achieve?
- Is it fair if only one person decides and the others always have to do what he/she wants?
- What would you say to someone like Populistifax?
- How could we help Punch?
- What would be courageous?
In a variation, other stories can be told or shown with puppets, Punch and his friends. Children can find certain qualities. Who acts bravely or courageously and why? Who acts unjustly?
Overview
| Name of the method | Punch or Political Puppet Theatre |
| Target group | Children from 4 to 10 |
| Duration | 30 minutes |
| Spatial requirements | Room, puppets and a puppet stage (or video) |
| Competences | Justice, critical thinking, tolerance, values |
| Objectives | Raising childrens’ awareness about lies and their consequences; strengthening reflection on justice, solidarity, fairness and power relations in a suitable way (without using these terms) |
| Method description | Facilitator plays with the puppets and tells the story of the populist and Punch. Children are asked several questions about justice, fairness, social interaction, etc. |
| Social work context | Suitable for social work in school and kindergarten |
| Preparation | Puppets, storyboard, puppets play or video (see German example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqSc48AnMns); preparation of questions; eventually, further material |
| Risks | In children's plays, the characters are often very one-dimensional. Good and evil are usually easy to distinguish. When choosing characters / puppets, great care must be taken not to serve stereotypes and promote prejudices. |
| concept / application | Markus Pausch; presented in adult education for teachers and social workers |
| References |
See other scenarios
Working with stories 1: The Lonely Duckling
Free associations and prejudice barometer
Deconstruction of Hate Speech
Extremism barometer (What is extreme?)
The District of Legends
Conspiracy video with youth “Le complot nouillles” (The Noodle conspiracy)
Text message to victims of hate speech
Argumentation training and countering hate speech – role play
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