Macy Rupp-Roof is on Fire response

1. CONTEXT: What were the circumstances that framed the meaning and process of this project? 

Several things framed the meaning and process of this project.  Primarily, portrayal of “inner-city” youth in the media was the motivator for this project.  Events like lake and LA riots in such close proximity to the performance of the Roof is on Fire also provided a much more interesting grounding for the timing of the project. 

2. CONTENT: What was the issue, need, idea or opportunity addressed by this project?

Issues such as sex, abortion, race, financial income, and family were addressed and became the topic of this performance piece but specifically in relation to how these issues related to the teens.  The need for this discussion to come from teens is vital because teens are a direct reflection on how our culture is positively or negatively affecting society. 

3: FORM: What is the medium that was used to address or embody the content?

I would argue that performance and people were the medium used in addition to establishing an environment and experience.  With the actual physical materials being very specifically chosen: the top of a parking garage and a collection of cars, it makes a subtle and simple statement.  When it comes to the experience design, it’s really the teens and their story that becomes the main medium.

4. STAKEHOLDERS: Which are the groups or individuals that invested in the process and outcomes of project?

Primarily the teens are the greatest steak holders in this situation because not only are they a medium utilized in the art piece but the outcome of the project affects them the most.  While I do believe that the artists and teachers involved are also steak holders in the project, artists can always fail when it comes to projects and try a new piece, where as it’s portrayed that the teens wouldn’t be able to do it without the artists and teachers who present the opportunity. 

5. AUDIENCE: For whom was this project conceived?

This project was really conceived for the communities surrounding the town’s high school, particularly for the adults and parents of that community.  On a greater scale with the documentary, the planned audience was really other artists or just anyone who would listen. 

6. ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES: How were the stakeholders, audiences, and others engaged/connected to the project?

The stakeholders and the audience were engaged in an interesting artistic cycle.  The audience needed to have these assumptions about teens and the stereotypes that follow them in order for the piece to be successful and for there to be an outcome.  They were all engaged because the teens were talking about topics that are socially referred to as “adult issues”,   introducing a connection between the audience and the stakeholders. 

7. GOAL: What are this project's objectives?

Some of the objectives of the project were to engage teens in conversations about issues in their community and our society, entice adults and leaders in the community to hear what the teens felt about these different issues, but I would argue that most importantly the project disproved the inaccurate stereotypes surrounding those teens at that time in our history.

8. VALUES: What were the project's guiding values or core beliefs? How were they expressed in the process?

A core belief of the project was that teens were being stereotyped in the media, leading to adult members of the community steryotyping the teens involved in the project.  This was expressed in the teen’s discussions with the artists and when they expressed concern about lack of control. 

9. RESOURCES: What tangible and intangible resources were used to pursue the project's goals?

Some tangible resources that were used were all of the cars and the fact that the cars were on the top floor of the parking garage.  Additionally the location fo the event was key.  Intangible resources that were used to pursue the goals were the artists’ visions and the teenagers stories.

10: OUTCOMES: What were the results of this project? 

The outcome of this project was an increased awareness amongst that community and whoever say the documentary that teens were in fact being stereotyped and that teens had a lot more to say about social and political issues and their opinions should be valued.