Relate Theater to Major

I believe that it is safe to say that theater is a metaphor for life. Theater can be compared to subject-matter other than theatrical productions. I mostly relate theater to the different “role plays” people reenact every day. How do they get to these reenactments? They play them through their career, but begin with one’s major in college. Personally, I’m majoring in Criminology and will complete a minor in Military Science. Theater can be related to these two specialties of choice by the different roles each profession plays on a daily basis.

To start out on how theater can be related to my major, let’s compare it to Criminology. Criminology can be broken into two different categories: Criminology and Criminology Pre-Law track. Just with a basic Criminology degree, one can pursue careers in law enforcement ranging from state jurisdiction to federal jurisdiction. These law enforcement officers have to put on an act everyday and change their roles from civilian to enforcer. These officers throw away their personality for eight hours a day and put on a straight face one does not want to cross. They completely change their “role” when they put on the badge and uniform. Just as actors transform when they are in wardrobe, officers transform into straight-edge men/women who are ready to protect society. Men in blue have to stage a specific performance just as the cast members of The Lion King have a specific performance on Broadway to stage.

The other side of the Criminology Major is Law. This track is concerned with legal confrontations in the courtroom. Lawyers without a doubt put on an act every time they are presenting a case in front of a judge. They have to control body language just as those on a theatrical production would do to portray a specific personality. Lawyers have to lie through their teeth at times wearing a straight face. They prove their arguments through non-verbal and verbal language. They do so with their provoking comments concerning a case. Once they put on the Armani Suit, they are all business and want to win the case.

With a minor in Military Science, being enrolled in the Army comes with territory. Men and women of the armed forces may have the most dramatic role change out there. The military’s motto for basic training is “From Citizen to Soldier.” One day someone is crunching numbers in a cubicle and the next day they are overseas with weapon in hand. Personally, I want to stick with the enforcement side of my Criminology degree. Transforming from State Trooper to Military Policeman will not pose a conflicting change. The only factor that will change is my surroundings. Performers go from stage to stage hosting different productions. I will just change my stage from America to Middle-East. Though playing the same role, the setting makes it more treacherous. Same as a law enforcement officer, once a soldier puts on their camouflage and picks up a weapon, they change their role to protecting our country.

Theater is all around us. All theater needs to occur is a stage and an audience. My stage can range from a courtroom to a battlefield. The audience is the person breaking laws or trying to terrorize our country. Theater is easily related to Criminology and Military Science. Putting on the perfect performance through these “roles” is a trait that comes with time and practice.