Playwrights Propose Change through Street Theatre
Jay says the press would take notice and the people demand change if the protest were dramatic enough: "think about it: 100 pretty white girls on a hunger strike in the capitol"
Anita says: "Ordinary citizens? Many might just think of it as just another anorexia convention. However, the bathing suit competition should be arresting."
MY 2 cents:
Here is the Off Playwright Topic part-- our elections and the laws and regulations (and appointments made by those who win them) are for sale: upwards of 90% of elections are won by the candidate with the most money, and the vast majority of that money raised is from corporate or other private interests. When poor people don't bother to vote because "you can't fight city hall", they aren't ignorant, just reasonably pessimistic. Media "buys" drive both turnout and preference. Among
developed democracies, our system ranks below average in terms of participation and above average in corruption.Most advanced democracies forbid corporate contributions, mandate free TV and radio time for candidates to campaign and debate, and set up a system other than "winner-take-all" in which gerrymandering is such a temptation. (I am active in grassroots groups working for election reform.)
On body politics as theatre: Would the Starving Babes performance art ploy work? I don't know, but I think it is creepy for a man to promote it.
The Raging Grannies and Cindy Sherman are on a hunger strike/rotating fast now. Is it working? I never hear it mentioned except in press releases from the people who are participating. I did seriously consider joining it-- I've done limited symbolic fasts
before-- but decided that maintaining my health and energy to fight the good fight for as long as my body and brain can is more important.
Anita says: "Ordinary citizens? Many might just think of it as just another anorexia convention. However, the bathing suit competition should be arresting."
MY 2 cents:
Here is the Off Playwright Topic part-- our elections and the laws and regulations (and appointments made by those who win them) are for sale: upwards of 90% of elections are won by the candidate with the most money, and the vast majority of that money raised is from corporate or other private interests. When poor people don't bother to vote because "you can't fight city hall", they aren't ignorant, just reasonably pessimistic. Media "buys" drive both turnout and preference. Among
developed democracies, our system ranks below average in terms of participation and above average in corruption.Most advanced democracies forbid corporate contributions, mandate free TV and radio time for candidates to campaign and debate, and set up a system other than "winner-take-all" in which gerrymandering is such a temptation. (I am active in grassroots groups working for election reform.)
On body politics as theatre: Would the Starving Babes performance art ploy work? I don't know, but I think it is creepy for a man to promote it.
The Raging Grannies and Cindy Sherman are on a hunger strike/rotating fast now. Is it working? I never hear it mentioned except in press releases from the people who are participating. I did seriously consider joining it-- I've done limited symbolic fasts
before-- but decided that maintaining my health and energy to fight the good fight for as long as my body and brain can is more important.
Labels: hunger strikes. election reform, politics as performance art
posted by G.L.Horton at 4:29 PM
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