In our recent interview with her, Canadian playwright Hannah Moscovitch brought up the following five questions:
- Has evil triumphed in our time?
- What form will the revolution take?
- To what degree are we responsible for the other people in our society?
- Is nationality still the locus of identity?
- Does art have to be a formal experiment to be a good piece of art?
Anybody want to take a stab at these? Any thoughts would be most welcome.
I’m going to take a stab at question #1.
1. Has evil triumphed in our time?
No. Because to admit that “evil” has triumphed would be to admit that “good” has been defeated. This is nihilism – “an extreme form of skepticism.” Evil – whatever that is – has its footholds. And all humans are complicit in its maintenance. But giving in to the idea that evil has somehow triumphed globally would itself be a sin of the greater evil. There will always be good. It cannot be eradicated – thus evil has not triumphed.
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Hmm. I don’t know if that’s content or semantics . . . you decide.
I had a go at a couple of the other questions, but found them far too complicated for any pithy response I might concoct here. Would love to see someone else have a go at this.
1. No, but it’s doing very well.
2. There’s already been a revolution. Canadian Theatre lost.
3. To a medium degree.
4. Not so much anymore.
5. No.
i think #2 and #3 are related. the revolution will necessarily involve are greater appreciation of our inter-relatedness. how much of what is fucked up right now -the environment, poverty, ignorance – is a product of a mistaken belief that our lives can occur in an independent bubble separate from the other 5 billion + bubbles bumbling through this world?
1. No, not specifically in our time. I think everyone would be much more chill if they taught history better in school.
2. I’m going to guess it will be Chinese and quiet.
3. I think this is the most interesting question and I have no answer.
4. For some people, I’m discovering.
5. No.
Has evil triumphed in out time?
Wow, I don’t know…let’s say that cynicism and exhaustion and input overload have triumphed…we still have time to ward off evil…but it is going to require a diligent rematch with the other three items.
What form will the revolution take?
I think the time for revolution is past…if there is another revolution it will take the form of a flame that will consume all…we need a new concept that liberates but on a cellular level (metaphorically speaking)
Responsible for others?
Hard, but I would like to say “God bless you Mr. Rosewater” is one of my favorite pieces of fiction. I hope, but I don;t always act…(frown in the mirror)
Is nationality locus? I see a day in our lifetimes where the answer is no. The world is getting smaller. Borders could very soon simply be a way to decide where to send your taxes to.
Does art have to formal experiment to be good?
maybe I dont understand what you mena by formal experiment but…
I think of henry darger, daniel johnston, harry partch, johnny cash, woody guthrie, howlin’ wolf, tex avery, howard finster…nuff said?
1.Has evil triumphed in our time?
I find this question more annoying than anything else. It seems to assume to know what “evil” is, and therefore what “good” is. But to give it the benefit of the doubt for a moment, our time, (not sure who’s that is) is probably considerably less evil than many other times in the past.So no, it hasn’t.
2.I hope there won’t be a revolution that in any way resembles past revolutions. They tend to be very “evil”.
3.Ask yourself this question and the answer is yours alone.
4.No.
5.No.