OnStage: For a long time, cancer was not something that you heard about very often. I don’t recall hearing about it or it being discussed when I was younger. Maybe it’s because I have grown up but I feel as though in the past ten years that word cancer really seems to have come to light. You hear more and more these days about people being diagnosed, people who never would have thought they would be the ones to hear “You have cancer.” We all know that cancer doesn’t discriminate. Any man, woman, or child could hear those words. Some are more at risk than others, but none the less, it seems all of us are vulnerable.
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This article really could have gone more into depth about the portrayal of cancer in movies, TV, and theatre but instead was pretty broad. A good point is made, however, that almost everyone can be affected by cancer and that it's important to openly discuss how we fundraise, advocate, and think about cancer research and the treatment of patients. One issue I believe with this author's approach is discussing cancer as a "battle". A battle has winners and losers, yes, but it suggests that some people are too weak to fight or beat the disease. The physical strength and will of the patient aren't factors which contribute to survival rates. Someone who passes away from cancer is not weak. This misrepresentation and other stigmas about the disease are great reasons on why cancer should be more accurately represented in the media. Certainly then more steps could be taken to better comfort patients and inspire donations and research.
I know that for some cancer is a hard topic to talk about. There are so many people out there who have been diagnosed or have someone close to them be diagnosed. I have been blessed to not have a direct relationship with cancer yet and this article was a good reminder that it is out there and that I can’t just ignore it. I think what these people do for rallies and fundraisers is a great thing for our country and I regret to say that I have not been a part of that in my life. Maybe it is time for me to step up. I don’t want to take my life for granted and even taking the time to help others is a great way to give back. We should all take time out of our day to really do some good community service even it isn’t in regards to cancer but other areas. There are so many organizations that just need volunteer work and giving some time to them each week will help.
I think the article reminds us of a really great point: cancer doesn't discriminate. Sometimes when I go to see theater, especially shows that go over sensitive topics like mental illness, sexism, racism, sexuality, etc., I find it really hard to relate to the story if I don't really know what it's like to be something I'm not. However, the portrayal of cancer in theater is different because it can happen to any of us. Also, it's such a common condition that it's very common to have either a direct or a mutual connection to the disease. For me, cancer is really important because my high school TD, someone I look up to greatly to this day, was diagnosed with cancer. He survived and fought it off but it was during my senior year of high school and it was the hardest year of my life. It was so hard to balance college apps, art, and theater productions without his guidance. Specifically to the article, I think it's great that I just keep learning about the true grasp theater has on serious topics. I'm grateful that companies get topics from mental illness to, now, cancer to the public.
Theater is the perfect medium for cancer, if such a thing could be said. Even though each and every battle with cancer is personal, theater is one art form that is inherently and extremely personal. When I was in high school, I saw a production of The Yellow Boat, in which a child with hemophilia contracted AIDS. It was an incredibly moving piece, especially since the main character was a young girl. While not cancer directly, there's still that underlying theme of terminal illness that resonated with so many people in the audience. My point is that cancer (or terminal illness) is such a common aspect of life that isn't really talked about without it being personal. Any why shouldn't it? You want to make theater that resonates with people, hit them where it hurts, for lack of a better phrase. Like Mark said, cancer doesn't discriminate. I can name like five people I know with cancer. It's a terrible disease and if we talk about it, make art about it, we can bring light to those and their families who have suffered.
So this article has way less meat than I thought it would, which is disappointing. While the author mentions shows and other mediums through which cancer takes a thematic or integral role, she does not quite get to the why and how and importance behind the matter. She does manage to say, several times, that cancer does not discriminate, which is accurate. I wish there was more to say for the author other than a sad and inspiring story about her dance teacher, maybe about the implications of having cancer appear in these shows, but she doesn’t quite get there. I think something interesting that could have been said would have been something like the mental illness article a few weeks ago in which representation leads to greater connection for the audience and that a show with a character with cancer could potentially comfort and support the masses with cancer.
When I first clicked on this article, I was expecting something presenting why the world needs pieces like this and the importance of these pieces to members of these communities. I completely agree with the increase in shows that portray people with cancer and the actual activities of their daily lives as opposed to a dramatized ideal version of it. I do think it si extremely important that as these pieces increase in number, they stay accurate and include people who have gone through and experienced these events in order to stay true to the actual experiences, thoughts, and feelings of these people. I think that the main author was trying to make was that cancer affects so many people that it only makes sense that it be featured or at least a part of a decent amount of the entertainment industry. I completely agree with this point, though I wish the author had been more explicit, because creating something for people to relate to can often be the difference between a lonely experience or a supportive one.
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