The Seattle Times: A theater in southern Germany is proceeding with plans to open a satirical play Friday about Adolf Hitler’s youth in which some patrons will be wearing swastika armbands, despite objections and legal complaints.
The Konstanz Theater’s production of George Tabori’s “Mein Kampf ” opens Friday night for a monthlong run.
3 comments:
When I first started reading this article and the part explaining that anyone who agreed to wear a swastika armband would have free admittance to the performances I was thinking how outrageous and offensive that is. But the article goes further to explain that this process will instantly bring up the conversation of privilege and how corruptible people can be which are some really interesting and important points to think about. Though I still disagree with the swastika armbands, I think it is possible for the performers and writer to communicate this message in a less offensive manor. I also do not know how I feel about a fictional play being written about Hitler and a fictional jewish friend. I know it is supposed to be satirical and I haven’t seen it so I cannot fully understand it but from my point of view it sounds like the show is sugarcoating Hitler as being a struggling artist more than as the man who caused so much death and strife.
Much like the Bright Room Lobby Display, anytime you display Nazi symbols people gets uncomfortable and it becomes a delicate situation. Even though I understand the intentions, I also don’t agree with how the armbands are handled. Even though the point is to, “show how easily corruptible people are, and provoke dialogue about racism.” I don't know if that is what the armbands accomplish. That puts it too much in a black or white manner. Racism is far more complicated than just one decision, so I don’t think the concept really works in the way the artists want it to. I also understand why it is so controversial, the Nazi symbols bring up a lot of emotion for many people. When dealing with a situation like that it depends on how it's handled. One of the trickiest parts about satire is walking the line between clear satire, and too real or offensive.
This aint it! I firmly believe to not mess with swastikas. It is a pure form of hatred and anti-semitism. I understand it is to “make a point” and “start a discussion” but this is not the way to do it, by allowing privileges to people who will adorn a swastika. Are any Jewish artists working on the show? I think there are more ways to get across the message that the director is intending than promoting people to wear swastikas and Stars of David. Like yes, the statement the director is trying to make is important and the conversation he is trying to provoke is important as well, but this is a rather insensitive way to go about enacting it. Especially when there is so much backlash from the public and Jewish communities. It is furthermore, insensitive, that the director is ignoring the fact Jewish/Israeli people are saying the decision is offensive.
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