Ever thought about how to share knowledge about your profession to the general public? Show ‘n Tell just doesn’t rock your world?
How about using puppets to talk about the law? That’s how Rania Refaat talks about the law to the general public in Egypt, as reported by Youssra el-Sharkawy in AL Monitor:
Originally a lawyer, Refaat combines law with art to explain Egyptian law and raise awareness of various issues, including human rights and women’s rights. She uses marionettes as her tool by which she can express her own views.
“Every artist has his ideas, and he searches for the best tools by which he can deliver these ideas. I chose puppets as my tool because they are popular and many people — of different ages — like them,” Refaat told Al-Monitor.
The young artist said, “Young children love to watch the puppets and like the music in the play, while older people understand the deep meaning and receive the message I’m delivering.” …
In her recent show titled “Ana mosh Ayza Atgawez” (“I Don’t Want to Get Married”), which was performed in Cairo during the Children’s Day celebrations on Nov. 20, Refaat discussed child marriage, a major issue in Egypt.
The play is set in what seems to be a village. A teenage girl cries after her father insists that she marry a 60-year-old man with an illegal contract because the girl is underage.
“Egypt is an inspiring country for any artist, and there are many topics that I’d like to raise awareness about through my art, like violence against women, corruption, the relation between people and the government, relation between people and the environment and even the way people raise their children,” she said.
I’m not sure this would make sense for a software engineer to do in the United States, but it might be fun, regardless. But could I see any of the lawyers of my acquaintance doing this?
Not really. But I’d pay real money to see it.
