Frequently Asked Questions

Catharsis Productions produces artistically innovative and research-supported programming that challenges oppressive attitudes, transforms behavior, and inspires communities to create a world without violence.

Catharsis Productions makes discussing of challenging issues like sexual violence accessible to audiences that may be reluctant to engage. Our work uses audience input, strategic humor and candid dialogue to lead communities toward catharsis, the purging of negative emotions or ideas that underpin social structures and behaviors.

We believe that humor is essential to create the space for difficult conversations about social taboos or rarely discussed ideas. While the use of humor in our work never makes light of violence or its consequences, we do find humor to be an effective tool in illuminating the conceptions our culture holds of stereotypical violence, gender roles and dating

Catharsis Productions chooses presenters via application and audition with regard to both issue-related educational experience and presentation skills. Once hired, all presenters undergo further issue-based training from subject matter experts and practice presentation skills with directors of specific Catharsis programs. Catharsis consistently performs quality control checks and ongoing presenter re-education to ensure the consistency and relevancy of all its presentations.

Humor is used strategically and intentionally in a number of ways throughout each of our programs. Each program utilizes humor early on in order to build rapport with audiences, allowing our presenters to build the positive relationship necessary to deliver challenging material. Additionally, humor is used to interrogate deeply held beliefs or norms with regard to rape (and other social justice issues), reducing the defensiveness that can often accompany discussions of the topic. Improvisation is employed as a means of fostering initial audience engagement in the dialogue; once audience members are comfortable participating in the light-hearted components of the program, they are more likely to engage in the dialogue’s more serious aspects.