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A deep dive into the play “The Vulture’s Day” by Antônio Carlos
dos Santos reveals how theater can serve as a tool for reflection, education,
and social transformation.
Imagine living in a
world where freedom is sold on shelves, where hope is commercialized by
demagogues, and where resistance is a revolutionary act. That is the world
presented to us in “The Vulture’s Day”, but it also invites us to overcome it.
In this article, explore how neuroscience, theater, and education intertwine to
transform consciousness and foster true liberation.
Theater has always
been one of the most powerful expressions of the human soul. From Ancient
Greece, with Aristophanes and Euripides, to modern avant-garde movements, the
performing arts have maintained their power to stir emotions, destabilize
accepted truths, and provoke change. In Brazil, the play “The Vulture’s Day”,
written by Antônio Carlos dos Santos, is a magnificent example of that power.
Born amid the repression of the military dictatorship, the play not only
denounces the horrors of a dark time but also invites the audience to revisit
essential concepts such as freedom, domination, and resistance.
Modern neuroscience
has shown that theater activates brain regions related to empathy,
perspective-taking, and emotional memory. Studies from Stanford University and
MIT indicate that watching emotionally and politically charged plays increases
activity in the medial prefrontal cortex, a region associated with
understanding others. This means that works like “The Vulture’s Day” not
only educate intellectually but also emotionally shape the audience’s social
perception.
Practical Tip: Teachers and
educators can use the play as a starting point to discuss topics such as
citizenship, authoritarianism, fake news, and active resistance.
Interdisciplinary workshops can be created using the MBPT method (Mané Beiçudo
Puppet Theater), which encourages critical thinking from childhood in a light
yet deep way.
In the play, the
distinction between freedom and liberation is more than semantic—it is
existential. Freedom, as the characters say, is displayed in shop windows;
liberation must be carved out by hand. This distinction also echoes research
from Harvard University on agency and self-determination. When a person
feels they have real control over their life, their neural connections are more
stable and resilient under stress.
Motivational Quote:
“Liberation is a vigorous organism... it can only be conquered through grit,
struggle, with unity, sweat, and blood.” (The Vulture’s Day)
The playwright,
Antônio Carlos dos Santos, is recognized for his original contributions at the
intersection of theater, neuroscience, and education. His MAT (Mindset, Action,
and Theater) and ThM (Theater Movement) methods have been applied in both
school and corporate settings with scientifically observed results: increased
intrinsic motivation, improved cognitive performance, and strengthened social
bonds.
Curiosity:
The MAT method was implemented in riverside communities in the Amazon and in
schools on the outskirts of São Paulo, with significant impacts on students’
self-esteem and academic performance.
Neuroeducation—a field
in which Antônio Carlos also works—asserts that all learning is emotional.
Thus, using theater as a pedagogical tool not only facilitates content
absorption but also anchors learning in meaningful experiences. When a student
portrays an oppressed character, they activate deep emotional circuits that
would hardly be accessed through a traditional lecture.
Inspiring Story:
Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said she used theater plays in
her community as a form of cultural and educational resistance to the Taliban.
Her fight for education was also a fight for the right to tell her own story.
In classrooms, “The
Vulture’s Day” can be transformed into a true laboratory of awareness.
Through dramatizations, philosophical discussions, and connections with the
contemporary world, teachers can encourage students to think critically and
feel empowered. After all, liberation is a pedagogical act. And teaching is a
loving rebellion against apathy.
“The Vulture’s Day” as a timeless piece.
It disturbs, provokes, and above all, inspires. By exposing the farce of false
freedom and exalting the courage of liberation, the play challenges us to take
an active stance in the world. May each reader allow themselves to be touched
by this provocation. Because, in the end, true revolution begins
within us.
Access the books by Antônio Carlos dos Santos on amazon.com or amazon.com.br
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