Political Analysis of Stressin tome-Rei Fields VALERIE C. KAELIN This article is the revision of a presentation made at the 1981 annual USITT Conference in Cleveland. .. The Cobbler's Children - A Political Analysis of Stress in CostumeRelated Fields." It outfines the events and procedures which led this author to conclude that the problem of stress in costume-related fields is primarily a political rather than a personal issue. The goal of its publication is to solicit involvement in the work of the Stress Committee of the Costume Commission: the immediate task at hand is a controlled inquiry of the problem. Suggestions and information for this on-going project may be addressed to its chairperson. Sylvia Hillyard. Department of Drama. University of Georgia. Athens 30602. or to the author. Valerie C. Kaelin IS a costume deSigner. She teaches at California State University-Fresno. USITI Fall. 1982 In discussions at the 1980 USITT Conference it became apparent that air traffic controllers were not alone in exposure to stress. The subject of stress was so urgent that it was simultaneously suggested as a topic for study by several individuals, and the response to this collective suggestion was instantaneous and highly emotional in nature. The topics covered at costume conferences. notes Sylvia Hillyard. '"usually range from 'How to Block a Felt Hat" through 'The Art of Leon Baskt". That year. the need seemed radically and unanimously different. We no longer find our craft. or even our art that which is in need of immediate attention. but ourselves.'" I Thus incited. resolutions were made to pursue the subject. It was observed that costumers are generally of poor physical and emotional health. resulting from a nearly constant state of exhaustion. Collectively. costumers demonstrate a high incidence of job burnout and early fatality. malnutrition. lack of exercise. insomnia. alcoholism. digestive disorders. high blood pressure. unsuccessful or nonexistent marriages and alternative personal relationships. lack of assertiveness with intermittent bitchiness. absentmindedness and forgetfulness.2 (The mark of a good costumer is. as we know. the continual misplacement of keys.) [t was determined that the task of the Stress Committee would be threefold: 1) to define our topic more clearly. 2) to develop an effective means of gathering and analyzing data. and 3) to prescribe professional advice in coping with stress. Initially. a list of common questions and problems was compiled. These established four categories of concern: 1) Stress Management. 2) Work Management. 3) Health - Regimen. utrition. Exercise. -+) Family Interpersonal Life. Here are samples of these questions: 1) How do I control the tendency toward a cycle of frenzy and burnout in creative and routine tasks') 2) How do I make myself focus on a single task to be done at a time. rather than allow my energies to scatter') 3) How can [ become productive and meet the demands of my profession without workaholism') 4) How can my organization of the design process help me to save time') 5) How can [ make my collaborators in production meetings more sensitive towards the need for the Theatre Design & Technology 11