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// Contrast and compare the role and purpose of secular drama and theatre as an expression of the communities from which it arose and for which it has served with that of religious and ritual drama and theatre. Use examples from __ Joe Turner __ and the way the play makes use of both secular and religious/ritual aspects to shape it's content an manner of expression. //

The use of secular and religious drama has been used by communities throughout time. In each individual culture, these types of drama and theatre pose different aspects of the community celebrating. When comparing these terms to our own culture, religious ritual drama would best be shown in a church, such as a Catholic service, where religious ceremonies would take part, and ritual drama would be revealed in ceremonies like graduation. Historically, the Hopi Indians of the southwestern United States celebrated in rituals to honor their spiritual guardians, kachinas. They believed that these spiritual guardians were the bridge between men and the gods, and in their ceremonies they used masks in order to represent the spirits of the kachinas and make them more tangible for the Hopi people. On the contrast, secular drama is evident in the culture of South Africa where they use puppets, in the Handspring Puppet Company, to reveal events and crimes committed under apartheid. This form of puppetry is performed by live actors, but because it describes themes like "hardship" rather than religious themes, this form of drama can be described as secular.

T hroughout the world, the crave for performance has led to these distinct forms of drama. This has led to an evolution of themes and even a wider variety of theatre traditions. Even though both Indonesia and China use puppets as a form of expression and theatre, their individual expression of their communities vary. In Indonesia, according to Stephanie Arnold, the puppets play out stories of kings and battles, which would be defined as secular drama. However, in China, animals gods defeating demons is the main theme of the drama, which is a form of religious ritual drama. This shows the differing expectations in the different countries and communities based on what the theatre chooses to perform.

Specifically, in __Joe Turner's Come and Gone__, there is evidence of both ritual and secular drama. Bynum is the best portrayal of ritual drama throughout the play.Throughout the play he is described as a rootworker that participates in varieties of religious type events. In the beginning of the play, he is shown out in the Holly's yard cutting off heads of pigeons that he buys from Reuben. No one in the play seems to know why Bynum participates in this ritual, but it is evident that it has some form of religious origin. Also, Bynum claims to have the ability to bind people. He is shown giving Mattie a small cloth packet that is suppose to bring her good luck if she sleeps on it. Lastly, he is shown trying to help Loomis escape from a trance like state when Loomis interrupts the religious ceremony of the Holly's who are celebrating the Holy Ghost. Bynum lays on the floor next to Loomis encouraging him to describe the events that he has seen. Bynum helps Loomis build up the strength to stand up and push the "demon" out of himself like some form of exorcism type event. Loomis also shows another ritual at the end of the play when he cuts himself and bleeds to feel renewed similar to the rituals of Jesus in the Bible shedding his blood for the renewal of the sins of mankind.

There are also secular events that occur throughout the play. Every morning Bertha makes coffee and biscuits for her residents and every Sunday she fries chicken. This aspect although it is not religious, occurs frequently enough that it could be looked at as a secular event. Also, Selig shows his own form of secular ritual by going to different households and taking names of the residents. Finally Loomis' search for his wife shows the secular ritual of staying connected to one's family. Both secular and religious rituals shape the manner of expression in __Joe Turner__ because they reveal the different individual journeys of the characters' path to learning more about their own self identity.