First and foremost, I apologize for dropping F-bombs in the presence of children.
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Billy Porter: Why I am committed to disturbing the peace
First and foremost, I apologize for dropping F-bombs in the presence of children.
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I think we are living in a time where one of the biggest questions we face is what does true freedom of speech and expression look like. Is it okay to cuss in front of children? Is it okay to blaspheme the president? Is it okay to openly chant anti-semitic slurs with impunity? At what point has a person's expression or speech begun to infringe on the rights of others? I think these are important conversations to happen, and I think that to have a true democratic world we have to let everyone speak their minds, and then filter out what we as a society deem to be deplorable and wrong. Using this filter is how we as a world will grow and change. Let white supremacists say what they want, but when they are faced with the push back and force that comes from the civilized world, they should accept that they can say what they want, but what they say is wrong.
Now more than ever it is not only imperative but necessary to be committed to disturbing the peace, as Billy Porter illustrates in the article. I agree with him wholeheartedly in the assertion that it's an artist's job to disturb the peace, to give voice to the unheard, and particularly in the case of theatre to make the audience turn inwards and question themselves. It was also interesting that Billy Porter addressed the rift between the personas he embodies onstage and his actual self, a much more nuanced and complex entity that does not always align with audience's expectations of the various characters he portrays. He cites this as one of the reasons for people having such a visceral reaction to his outspokenness against the recent displays of bigotry and hatred across the country. I also agree with his observation of the blatant complicity of parts of our government when it comes to all forms of supremacy --being a silent bystander to hatred can be just as bad as being a perpetrator of it.
God bless Billy Porter for making such a defining statement. It’s very easy in today’s society to ‘not take sides’ and ‘stay out of politics’. But it is our obligation as artist to take a stand. And those who argue there is a ‘tactful’ or ‘respectful’ way to protest, are really just asking not to hear about it. Because protest is inherently disruptive. If it isn’t, it’s not a protest. The whole point is to force everyone to view the problems in our society. The goal is to inconvenience, to be loud, to disrupt so that the apathetic can’t turn a blind eye. I’m glad Billy Porter is standing up and being loud. I wish more artists would be outspoken about their dissent. Because, in today’s world there is no middle ground. If you aren’t actively fighting oppression, you’re contributing to it. So stop being a coward and speak out, or accept the fact the you’re a part of the problem when you keep your head in the sand.
Disturbing the peace and taking sides is the only thing that will turn the world around for the better. This goes for racism, sexism, environmental issues, etc., etc., etc. It's so, so easy to stay quiet. it's easy to keep using plastic plates and silverware. It's hard to fight back or change yourself or someone else. But if everyone fought as a mass, together, it would be easier. If the US banned plastic plates and cutlery like France, we'd adjust and it would get easier. If it was more normal to notice sexist, racist, etc. language and call it out, it would be easier for others to do the same. Engaging in conversations with people who use this language would be easier. And conversations is where change starts. Conversations break the silence, they disturb the peace. We need to stand tall and strong for what we believe for and disturb that peace.
One of the things I love the most about theatre is the way it disturbs the peace and creates a space for social commentary to be made. Especially in a time like the one we have found ourselves in- where the media is silenced and the worst sides of people come to fruition- theatre (and art as a whole) is a platform to push the boundaries our government is trying to set in place. As Billy Porter touches on, now is the time to push the boundaries and work on grace and peace in a world that seems like it's losing every shred of it. I am so grateful to be a part of an artistic community that knows how to, and does, push these bounds relentlessly and it is refreshing to have a voice like Billy Porter inspire other people to do the same.
Porter's statement here is an important one, especially for us as aspiring young artists living in such challenging times. We need to be committed to upholding our beliefs now more than ever, and our art will give us a public forum in which to not only uphold our beliefs, but to also challenge those which threaten the rights so many in our country have fought and died for.
I believe as artists and as members of humanity we need to speak up against injustice and oppression. As artist, we have an outlet to make out voices heard and I believe that it is our duty to use that voice to say something meaningful to our community. And Billy Porter did just that. The used his position as a public figure and as an artist to get the message of love out and to inspire people to stand up against hatred. But, his position as a public figure puts him in an interesting position. More and more, I keep coming along this debate with my peers about whether musician especially, should talk about politics when in front of an audience. Some people say that the musician should not talk about politics because it alienates some audience members and that the audience came to experience the music or whatever art the artist is producing not hear the artists political views. But, I disagree with this statement, I believe that all art is inherently political even if only to the slightest degree. And in this time of political and social turmoil we should all be talking about the hate and injustice in America and in our world even if it makes us uncomfortable. We have to step out of our comfort zones if we want to ever see a new perspective and create a more tolerant and excepting world.
Humans are emotional creatures. We have the ability to empathize with people and to perform altruistic behavior. We can pull emotions and meaning out of very abstract concepts. Thus art becomes very powerful to viewers. Art can make people feel certain emotions. Art can perform a catharsis on people as it works through various emotions. Art can pull a single emotion or cause a breakdown. As artists, we create all this within people. We can cause things to happen with people and so we can also cause people to think different things. We have the ability to take a stance and to make statements. So I agree with Porter and Baldwin. As artists we have a responsibility to stand out and stand for things. We should create change and we should create understanding among others. It is our responsibility because we have that power. We can create catharsis within people and so we can create change within our world.
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