Drama: an appropriate tool in development support communication.

Because it supports progress, drama embodies development and, thus, can be used to support development communication. In fact, drama is the most appropriate medium for effecting change for development because it 1) involves interpersonal communication; 2) broadens the meaning of development; 3) challenges assumptions, demands accountability, suggests remedies, and evaluates the totality of performance; 4) exploits the politics of possibility; 5) is inherently dialogue; 6) allows the target community to participation during the exposition, the conflict, and the resolution; 7) is easy to assimilate; and 8) provides access to any medium. Drama is especially appropriate in South Africa because children carry on a tradition of play-acting, South Africans exhibit politeness to strangers that makes them passively aggressive in resisting change, it allows the temporary removal of cultural barriers among members of households, and it resembles the oral tradition that was pervasive in the culture. Drama can impart greater legitimacy to topics originating from the community or fuse a totally new concept with local culture. It can be used as a tool to criticize political mismanagement, comment on social problems, question culture, debate religious matters, examine economic society, assist educational programs, assist health efforts, raise people's awareness about conservation, and help spread technological advancements. Drama allows more to be done than said and allows communities to be involved in development efforts.