Monday, March 26, 2007
Does the n-word have a place in theater?
DenverPost.com: "Its offensiveness is finally so widely acknowledged that only those who were once its targets dare utter it in polite, contemporary America. But its shameful place in history is affixed in chains - any honest depiction of the black experience in America that shies from it is a lie."
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6 comments:
In a the historical context of the plays, as the article points out, the n-word becomes absurd and completely nullifies the entire concept of slavery and 'owning' PEOPLE. I think that this is a serious enough issue that it can and should be provoked in that way; in the way that addresses the issues that remain from that history today though we often don't like to admit it. It's deeply embedded in our society in the tiniest nooks and crannies and I think that an absurd and blatant exposure of that in theatre is a great way to start digging that up.
under most circumstances i cringe at the use of the word, but in a theatre setting attempting to represent a historical issue or event then the word should be allowed to be used. it doesnt condone of the words use in everyday society, it does not empower it...if anything it makes it even more degrading because we are moving away from its use in everyday society....now it pops up in rap music and racism...otherwise its almost become completely offensive, no one even wants to think of saying unless they have th intention to offend or feel they are entitled to say it. it sould stay in the theatres, it represents what we were and to a certain extenet what we still are today. it offers a way to learn.
Theatre is an art form, and I don't see people upset about the use of this word in theatre trying to destroy all of the artwork depicting slavery. There is a reason why these words are written into a play, whether it is tied within a historical context or meant solely to make people squirm in their seats. There is a clear difference between the use of the word within a theatrical context and within everyday use.
The wonderful thing about using language unacceptable to our society is it immediately places characters where they are usually intended. A character using the n-word usually alienates the audience almost immediately. It's a great tool for playwrights, and at the same time it keeps our society on their toes. We shouldn't ever become hardened to our history with slavery, or forget it. And it stays alive in the theatre.
While we will probably all cringe when the n-word is used, whenever and wherever, I think it is inacurate and unthruthful to omit it from theater. When a show takes place in a time and location where the word would be used and you aren't telling the whole story without using it (not that its use shouldn't be substatinated), that is what people dealt with and lived through, so I don't see why we shouldn't see the full and truthful extent of their hardship. Hopeful when we acurately show tell story the audience can understand and learn from it.
I really don't see the problem. When you write a play, you choose the words that you feel work the best to get your point across. If they offend the audience then you obviously chose the word to do such to get that point across, it's, in most cases, not the playwrite trying to be a dick, he/she just want to tell you something about his/her beliefs.
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