Thursday, April 23, 2009
Church to protest Corona del Mar High's 'Rent'
Los Angeles Times: "The staging of 'Rent,' a story of struggling artists in New York City including characters who are gay and diagnosed with AIDS, has created months of controversy at the affluent school. It was nearly canceled, a fact cited in an ACLU lawsuit against the district alleging that the campus is homophobic and sexist."
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2 comments:
This similar to a story I read last year of a school who cancelled their production of "The Laramie Project" because of its homosexual content. Nevermind that the show includes a brutal murder. I am constantly shocked by what content offends people and what doesn't. Sex and homosexuality is offensive, but brutal murder is not. I wonder how many productions have been cancelled for their sexual content vs. violence.
Why, in this year after Rent closed when we should be HONORING what it achieved in the way of mass acceptance for different lifestyles, are people blocking its messages? I feel it is categorically wrong to block a piece like Rent. However, I also think people need to choose their battles. I think that when a high school chooses to do shows they need to be concious of the subject matter or content - any - which could potentially offend. If a high school did Calamity Jane, people would undoubtedly be offended by the blatantly anti-Native American sentiments in it. If they did Grease, strict Christian parents might object to the teenage sex depicted. No matter what the piece, you need to know your audience and anticipate the recpetion.
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