Artist’s view
Went to a workshop with playwright Lee Blessing. It brought up some things about our duty as writers. As usual, I’m conflicted. I see plays written about a particular political theme, or about values that we wish to instill in others. And they are my values too. But the thing I’m struggling with is the idea that I’m preaching to the choir. People who come to these plays, who seek out certain plays are already those who believe in the values that we are presenting. I can’t help wrestle with the feeling that like Facebook, it turns into an echo chamber. What can we offer as writers that actually reaches those who have shut us off? Who have defined their values with other parameters?
Very often I’m asked to direct or write plays about women’s issues. This is the only voice afforded me sometimes and I’ve received criticism when there are male leads in some of the plays I have written. I assert that feminist ideas are not just for women. To transform we cannot paint those we are trying to reach as outsiders.
When I write I am drawn to those plays that deal with humanity – as a broader topic and through a broader lens. If we can think of ourselves as a community of humans, bringing our individual talents and insights to the conversation, then we are truly inclusive. Works dealing with specific issues are important. I want to stress that. In an atmosphere when either/or is king, I want to stress that I firmly believe that multiple approaches are relevant and needed.
I don’t need to see another play about gun control. I’m on board. That doesn’t mean I’m against gun control. I’ve been cancelled by this sort of black and white thinking before, and my voice will now forever apologize and qualify before my heart speaks. That’s the damage of that sort of environment for all of us. How are we ever to have a debate instead of an argument unless we refrain from cancelling those with the opposing view. I’m not talking about Nazis. That’s always the argument and it’s just more black and white thinking. We want rules to guide us and we’re willing to turn off our brains to uphold the hard fast rules. That’s the whole problem on both sides.
And so, of all Lee Blessing’s plays, the one that speaks to me is Chesapeake. (spoiler alert) There’s a politician who cancels a grant for an artist. The artist plots revenge by kidnapping the popular dog of the politician. In a bizarre twist, it goes wrong and the artist starts to become the dog. By the end, he learns about the humanity of the man and begins to love him, unconditionally. Not a popular theme in this day and age. I do believe there are madmen who inspire the worst of humanity. I believe we are in such a time right now. But I also believe a way (not the only way for God’s sake) but a way to combat this is to take a hard look at what it is to be human. If love of humanity is only a liberal issue, we’re all in trouble.