The Laramie Project

Consider the role of the media in the play. How does the population of Laramie view media attention? How is Kaufman’s theater group its own form of media? In what ways does the theatrical nature of Kaufman’s group affect people’s openness and participation in interviews? How does the Epic Theatre movement try to negotiate The Tension Between Spreading Public Awareness and Maintaining Privacy?

Teaching Suggestion: This Prompt invites students to connect their response from the Personal Connection Prompt to the context of the story. For the residents of Laramie, the media attention is largely unwanted and invasive; however, Kaufman’s interviews exhibit a variety of diverse opinions related to the crime itself, as well as the media coverage surrounding it. Consider inviting students to take a step back and examine the invasive nature of the play, including the format (i.e., interviews), the inherent biases of the theater troupe, and the violation of privacy.