Extreme dilemmas in performance ethnography : unleashed emotionality of performance in critical areas of suicide, abuse, and madness

The use of drama to influence social, political, and health practices has a long and well-understood tradition, dating from Greek and classical times. Within the modern era, we can see that the works of Dario Fo, for example, represent not only fine examples of drama, but in addition represent a significant mode of political and cultural critique. The themes of such works as The Accidental Death of an Anarchist can be seen to resonate as strongly in contemporary society as they did in the 1970s in Italy. Similarly, ethnodrama, as first described by Mienczakowski,25 should be interpreted as the staged performance of cultural texts developed, written, and authenticated by health care patients, their associated health care specialists, academics, and the general public (as audience).