AFP: A theatre in southern Russia has stopped selling tickets to the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" after prosecutors launched a probe into whether it is offensive to devout Christians, officials said Saturday.
Saint Petersburg's Rock Opera company was to perform the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical -- a 1970s classic that has been regularly performed in Russia -- at the Philharmonic in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don on October 18.
7 comments:
As I read this article, I could understand both sides. From the Christian's side, any kind of different image of Jesus can be seen as profanation. However, from the theatre's side, it has been playing the show for more than 20 years and there has been no warning or any single complaint, which can be assumed that no insulting has been played against Jesus. Now all of the sudden, it is criticized for its content of play is unfair. In addition, assuming that the company was applauded by several Christians and church members, I don't think it should be a matter.
Russian's version of Freedom of Expression is different from America's, certainly, but I'm surprised that a mere 18 people could have such a strong influence as to close down a production of anything much less a show as popular and long-running as JCS.
Perhaps in 1971, when Superstar debuted, it did shock the world but today, in 2012, we can't be this close-minded.
If you're so threatened by a depiction of god, ANY depiction of god that disagrees with your views, then simply shutting up those people does nothing to strengthen your own views.
The article doesn't go into any details if this particular production and whether or not there was anything ESPECIALLY offensive about the depiction of Jesus but that shouldn't matter, in the end. I'm willing to bet that there were more than 18 people who wanted to see that production and I'm surprised St Petersburg's Rock Opera had no other option but to CLOSE.
Fascism sucks.
I'm confused. The protesters say that Jesus Christ Superstar is offensive to devout Christians because the "image of Christ presented in the opera is false from the point of view of Christianity," yet fail to expand on that. If this belief is based on the fact that the score is modern and rock-infused, wouldn't that have been an issue in the 1970s as well? Why now? Perhaps their issue comes from a certain production choice that the Philharmonic wished to implement, but the article doesn't mention anything like that. I also think it's a little bit stunning that the theatre chose to halt the production due to 18 protesters. 18. 18 complaints from 18 different people, not even grouped together under an organization, is stopping the production of a play. Hmmm.
Wow I did not think that the Russian Orthodox Church has such a strong presence in censorship. I guess it is my American left wing mind set but I am surprised that Russia is still so oppressive over something that seems in my eyes so very trivial. I agree with Jake that in the modern world we can not be so close-minded. However, unlike my esteemed colleague Mr. Rothermel I am not surprised at all that in the modern world people are still scared to piss of the religious groups. If you do not agree with the content of Superstar don't see it or give it a bad review, do not shut down the performance by screaming profane performances. For the love of god people need to take themselves and their religious beliefs out of what can be publicly performed and exhibited as art. Most modern art makes me grumpy and offends my aesthetic but I do not want it to be censored. Religious freedom needs to be embraced globally and it will never happen but I can dream can't I.
It seems like it's only a select group of people that disagree with the production of the musical and not the entire Christian population of Russia. It seems silly to cancel a show that's been worked hard on for months just because a select group of people disagree with the subject of the show. Not to mention it seems like Russia is a mainly atheist country and that the Russian orthodox church doesn't have that much of a presence in Russia. Shows like JCSS are supposed to push boundaries and be a bit offensive so I don't see why it would be canceled.
It seems like it's only a select group of people that disagree with the production of the musical and not the entire Christian population of Russia. It seems silly to cancel a show that's been worked hard on for months just because a select group of people disagree with the subject of the show. Not to mention it seems like Russia is a mainly atheist country and that the Russian orthodox church doesn't have that much of a presence in Russia. Shows like JCSS are supposed to push boundaries and be a bit offensive so I don't see why it would be canceled.
As Jacob said, it seems rather surprising that a group of people as small as 18 had the influence to shut down such a large production. There really are not enough details in the article to get a real idea of what the situation is, but I like the fact that the official statement from the Russian Orthodox Church supports the production. It also seems that there are fringe groups of people within any religion who will take things to the extreme.
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