The Globe and Mail: "A Conservative Party campaign billboard in London featuring the image of its leader, David Cameron, has been defaced with the spray-painted slogan “F--- off back to Eton.” Is it Cameron’s fault that he has an unfortunately smug countenance, which an Italian friend of mine calls “a face of slaps,” or that his parents sent him to Eton College, that fertile plot where the future tsars of Britain are carefully watered and weeded?" Via ArtsJournal
2 comments:
I don't think that Americans can truly grasp the concept of classism the same way the British do. Certainly we have had Old Money and New money in the US, but with the whole prohibition against titles of privilege we have never had a true nobility. I think it would be interesting to see how the plays mentioned in this article would fare in an American playhouse. I would bet the reception would be less strong, as there is less to resonate with the audience. That said I think there is a good possibility these plays would not fail, especially the play about London's urban poor. Americans are no stranger to prejudice,as backlash against current immigrants proves.
This is definitely not something I was aware of in British culture, and had no idea that it was making its way into the consciousness of the country, and aparently ours, through theatre. Both of these plays seem fascinating, and I think it would do well for people in both socioeconimic backgrounds to see what the "other side" has to say about thier condition of living and the quality of their day to day lives.
I am also curious how the election of this new Prime Minister might effect which plays become prominent in London theatre--really, if politics has that much influence over the entertainment business, then the country is in for some serious reconsideration of priorities.
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