Chair of Thrones
Main Topic
Solidarity - Social Activities
Additional Topic(s)
-
Duration
1-2 hours
Implementation Mode
Indoor F2F
Goal(s)
● To learn how to critically analyse and question power dynamics in society.
● Finding out what leadership actually is.
Expected Results
● To be able to discuss power dynamics, hidden or explicit, in society.
● To understand the concept of leadership.
● Finding out what leadership actually is.
Expected Results
● To be able to discuss power dynamics, hidden or explicit, in society.
● To understand the concept of leadership.
Overview of Activity
Which chair is the most powerful? By just changing the places of chairs, how are power relations restructured? Participants are invited to discuss how power relations are constructed in our societies by using only 6 chairs. Even one chair matters, and sometimes loneliness is more powerful than being part of a group or it represents marginalisation.
Description of Activity
1. The facilitator should place 6 chairs 50 cm apart. The facilitator invites all participants to stand, or sit, in front of the chairs. Then, the facilitator briefly explains the game (see the description), and asks the following questions to the participants:
What do you see when you look at these chairs?
Which one of these chairs is the most powerful one? Why?
Where do you think the power is located? In the middle or on the left or right? Why?
2. The facilitator should now separate one chair from the others and place it at a bit of distance (1.5 - 2 meters are ideal). Now, it is the time to ask the following questions:
What do you see now when you look at these chairs?
Which one of these chairs is the most powerful one? Why?
What is the change? What has changed? Does that change remind you of something in society? Why?
3. Lastly, the facilitator should change the entire setup by placing one chair at the front, 2 chairs in the second row, 2 more in the third row and 1 chair at the back. The following questions should be asked:
What do you see now when you look at these chairs?
Which one of these chairs is the most powerful one? Why?
What is the change? What has changed? Does that change remind you of something in society? Why?
Is the one at the front the most powerful one? Or is it the one at the back?
4. If there is still time left, the participants can change the setup as they wish and reflect upon the power dynamics depending on the new setup. In the end, all participants should be invited to a final discussion about power and leadership.
What do you see when you look at these chairs?
Which one of these chairs is the most powerful one? Why?
Where do you think the power is located? In the middle or on the left or right? Why?
2. The facilitator should now separate one chair from the others and place it at a bit of distance (1.5 - 2 meters are ideal). Now, it is the time to ask the following questions:
What do you see now when you look at these chairs?
Which one of these chairs is the most powerful one? Why?
What is the change? What has changed? Does that change remind you of something in society? Why?
3. Lastly, the facilitator should change the entire setup by placing one chair at the front, 2 chairs in the second row, 2 more in the third row and 1 chair at the back. The following questions should be asked:
What do you see now when you look at these chairs?
Which one of these chairs is the most powerful one? Why?
What is the change? What has changed? Does that change remind you of something in society? Why?
Is the one at the front the most powerful one? Or is it the one at the back?
4. If there is still time left, the participants can change the setup as they wish and reflect upon the power dynamics depending on the new setup. In the end, all participants should be invited to a final discussion about power and leadership.
Sources & Additional Materials
Adapted from the activity “Power chairs” in “Active Citizens facilitator’s toolkit”. "https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/active_citizens_global_toolkit_2017-18.pdf">https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/active_citizens_global_toolkit_2017-18.pdf
Additional Notes
What chairs may represent:
The game involves placing one chair in a prominent position while positioning others further away or in a subservient location. This setup can be seen as a representation of the power dynamics that exist within a group or society, where some individuals or groups hold more power and influence than others.
The chair that is positioned in a more prominent location can be seen as a symbol of leadership or authority, while the chairs that are positioned further away or in a subservient location can be seen as symbols of marginalized or less powerful positions.
The positioning of chairs at different heights can impact the power dynamics being conveyed in the game. Higher chairs may suggest a greater sense of authority or power, while lower chairs may imply subservience or lower status.
The arrangement and height of chairs in the game can serve as a means to symbolize and communicate leadership. Typically, the chair that is positioned at a more prominent or elevated location can be interpreted as representing the leader or person in authority, while the remaining chairs may represent individuals occupying subordinate or follower roles.
The arrangement of chairs could be used to represent different organizational levels or hierarchies within a group or society. For example, the front chair may represent executives or high-level leaders, while the chairs in the second row represent managers or mid-level leaders, and the chairs in the third row represent employees or subordinates.
The game involves placing one chair in a prominent position while positioning others further away or in a subservient location. This setup can be seen as a representation of the power dynamics that exist within a group or society, where some individuals or groups hold more power and influence than others.
The chair that is positioned in a more prominent location can be seen as a symbol of leadership or authority, while the chairs that are positioned further away or in a subservient location can be seen as symbols of marginalized or less powerful positions.
The positioning of chairs at different heights can impact the power dynamics being conveyed in the game. Higher chairs may suggest a greater sense of authority or power, while lower chairs may imply subservience or lower status.
The arrangement and height of chairs in the game can serve as a means to symbolize and communicate leadership. Typically, the chair that is positioned at a more prominent or elevated location can be interpreted as representing the leader or person in authority, while the remaining chairs may represent individuals occupying subordinate or follower roles.
The arrangement of chairs could be used to represent different organizational levels or hierarchies within a group or society. For example, the front chair may represent executives or high-level leaders, while the chairs in the second row represent managers or mid-level leaders, and the chairs in the third row represent employees or subordinates.
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