Artistic Freedom

February 10, 2004

True artistic freedom is revolutionary because it opens our eyes to the unknown and forces us to see the world in new ways. Without artists, the human spirit would shrivel in its tendency to close in on itself when it fears the unknown.

“What seek you? Say! And what do you expect?
I know not what; the Unknown I would have!
What’s known to me is endless; I would go
Beyond the known: The last word still is wanting.”

Ferruccio Busoni. Prophet of Electronic Music

And so it is for any artist.

Gay Sin

February 08, 2004

One of the key issues of the 2004 election is whether or not gay marriage is legal, and furthermore, whether or not being gay is a sin. Apparently, the politicians have taken it upon themselves to tackle and resolve this tough theological question. According to Howard Dean, “the overwhelming evidence is that there is a very significant, substantial genetic component to it. From a religious point of view, if God had thought homosexuality is a sin, he would not have created gay people.”

On the other side of the partisan battle, Republicans and the Far-right Christians are pushing for a “constitutional” amendment against gay marriage, and President Bush has said he would support it.

The issue essentially pits those who do not confuse the scriptures with the laws of our fading democracy, against those who would replace the Constitution with the Holy Bible. For the bible-toting crowd, they believe that Leviticus 18:22 defines the issue: “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind, it is abomination.”

The Theatre of the Barely Socially Acceptable, Act 3

February 07, 2004

In this month’s performance from the acclaimed Theatre of the Barely Socially Acceptable—monodialogue® cell phone performances from the Washington subway—showbiz lobbies for better government.

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Theatre of the Barely Socially Acceptable, Act 3:

What’s up?
I had a good time too.
Hey thanks. Yeah, I’ve been working out.
Twice a week at Homeland Security.
Ah huh, the gym’s in the basement.
An old bunker.

Abs and upper body.
Tom Ridge? Never.
Not just a stud, a nipple shield.

At the gym? Yeah, I hear stuff.
[A woman nearby abruptly shuts her Clive Cussler novel]
They’re putting Bush on a tape delay.
Just in case.
5 seconds? No, 5 minutes.
Not enough.

What’s he think?
Wardrobe malfunction?
War malfunction.

Great.
It’s a date.
Ok, I’ll meet you there.
Wear that black thing. What?
You know, that black thing that…
Yeah, that’s the one.
And don’t be…
No, I won’t be late.
See ya soon. Bye.

Past Performances:
The Theatre of the Barely Socially Acceptable, Act 1
The Theatre of the Barely Socially Acceptable, Act 2

Apparently Jackson's Nipple

One second of Janet Jackson’s nipple clearly beats 30 seconds of Bush shots, the sad and ironic truth of full-frontal exposure politics in the age of corporate censorship of paid-political announcements. The event reveals nothing so much as the fall-out of the nuclear family itself, as post-half-time analysis concentrates on the NFL’s inability to foster family values, and at TV dinner time, no less. As if we should have to gather around the family table and look our children in the eyes … NOT to track their gaze and confirm that they aren’t hopelessly pierced by a premature introduction to dominatrix-chic … but rather to maintain the lie that we can ellide our debts to our offspring by reinstating the 7-second broadcast-delay.