Titicut Follies Tickets

Titicut Follies is a 1967 documentary film by Frederick Wiseman that provides a glimpse into the life of patients at Bridgewater State Hospital, a correctional facility for the criminally insane in Massachusetts. The film has been highly controversial since its release because of the graphic and unsettling depictions of the mistreatment of patients, as well as the use of restraints and other forms of physical abuse.

Although Titicut Follies is not typically considered a dance show, it features a number of dancing scenes that serve to highlight the themes of institutionalization, control, and power dynamics that are central to the film. In one scene, patients are seen dancing in a group in what appears to be a planned performance for staff members, while in another, an inmate is shown being punished by being forced to dance alone in his cell.

The dancing scenes in Titicut Follies provide a striking contrast to the otherwise bleak and oppressive atmosphere of the institution. They reveal the ways in which patients are often compelled to perform for their captors, either as a means of entertainment or as a form of punishment. These scenes also raise important questions about the role of dance in institutional settings and the potential for it to be used as a tool of oppression rather than liberation.

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the ways in which dance can be used as a form of therapy and rehabilitation for individuals with mental health conditions. Dance shows such as Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance have brought dance into the mainstream and provided opportunities for people of all abilities to express themselves through movement.

However, Titicut Follies is a reminder that dance can also be used as a means of control and coercion in certain contexts. The film serves as a warning against the abuse of power that can occur when vulnerable individuals are subjected to institutionalization and the arbitrary exercise of authority.

In conclusion, although Titicut Follies is not a dance show in the traditional sense, its depiction of dance within an institutional setting raises important questions about the use of dance as a tool of control and liberation. The film provides a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and underscores the need for greater scrutiny of institutions that claim to serve the public good.