Tutor time activity: Should theatre be censored?

Tutor time activity: Should theatre be censored?

In September 'Exhibit B' opened in London.

Synopsis:

Described by Peter Brook as ‘an extraordinary achievement’, this haunting installation sets out to subvert a disturbing phenomenon, turning the notion of exotic spectacle on its head. 

Exhibit B critiques the ‘human zoos’ and ethnographic displays that showed Africans as objects of scientific curiosity through the 19th and early 20th centuries. Translated here into twelve tableaux, each features motionless performers placed in settings drawn from real life. Collectively they confront colonial atrocities committed in Africa, European notions of racial supremacy and the plight of immigrants today. 

As spectators walk past the exhibits one-by-one, to the sound of lamentations sung live by a Namibian choir, a human gaze is unexpectedly returned. 

Theatre used to be censored, however it's not anymore and we live in a society where we promote freedom of speech and expression. We watch plays about racism, violence and sex. We have plays by Edward Bond and Sarah Kane; surely we have become an un-shockable nation?

Do you think that 'Exhibit B' should have been cancelled or not? What are you justifications for your thoughts? 

If you agree - do you think that plays with particularly 'offensive' topics should also not be shown?

DISCUSS - listen and respond to each other.

Although many were disturb by the piece and believed it was a mockery to african decedents many whom had an issue with the exhibition did not see it. A lot of people believed that it was subjection of black people all over again repeating history for others to view as entreatment. even though this is far from the intentions of the creator but i believe that maybe their should have been some kind or dialogue or narrative to information the audience and others of what was happening. this work was intended to be viewed as art and to inform people of the brutal racism and fascination towards africans at that time. however i believe that if this is art, why couldn't it be held somewhere that is known for showcasing art or even rent a building because using venues that host other events such as theatres like the barbican can really confuse people of the intentions of the piece. A lot of people felt that their ancestors were being degraded all over again instead of showing something with information for other to learn from. it seems that black people didn't do much according to history except for being slaves and prisoners which is far from the truth, this sparked outrage amongst the public because this is all that we hear.  

i don't think that Exhibit B should have been cancelled because i think that it's important to show innovative expressive work. If no one pushed boundaries we wouldn't talk or explore touchy subjects and break boundaries. i think there were plenty of things featured in the exhibition that was new and shocking about the human zoo's that if it wasn't showed people would of been unaware of. i think that this is the first time that art has been so provocative and unapologetic that the public don't know how to react or react positively purely because people are usually scared of new things. but if this way of thinking and sharing information happened more often we'd be a much more knowledgeable and better society.  

during this discussion many people in the class had different views. some people thought that the exhibition should of stayed on whilst other disagreed. i understand both views. one in being to learn and move forward you need to be aware of history but then on the other hand  what about the history that is never shared or mentioned. Or what about the same names mentioned in black history month like their aren't others worthy of being mentioned. i black people didn't do great things. i think that many were just angry for the same views being shown over and over again. the exhibition was different but the information wasn't. in the class it was clear that this art work caused a lot of confusion and angry amongst students whether being black,white or mixed because some students who were white talked about how they were ashamed that it was once their race that done such horrific things whilst other students spoke about how annoying it is to hear repetitive information. 

"‘To suppress free speech is a double wrong. It violates the rights of the hearer as well as those of the speaker. It is just as criminal to rob a man of his right to speak and hear as it would be to rob him of his money.’" - Frederick Douglass