h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: The Lysistrata Project - A951950
Author: Quitpinchinme - U217698

The Lysistrata Project



A collaborative project created by a group of theatre professionals in NYC, The Lysistrata Project is perhaps the world's first international art project serving as an anti-war protest. On March 3, 2003, 210 groups of artists in 23 countries to date will protest the potential war on Iraq by staging productions or readings of the Greek comedy Lysistrata written by Aristophanes in 412 B.C. The object of this action is to raise awareness of opposition to the war-but to do it in a pacifist manner that will encourage healthy public dialogue. The play's plot centers on a sexual strike called by the women of ancient Greece in an attempt to end a civil war. The artists taking part in the simultaneous productions are reading from many different scripts and adaptations of the play, from monologues to musicals to the traditional Greek structure. The performances themselves will range from bare-bones readings to fully-realised productions. Further information about the project, including locations of readings, can be found at the group's website www.lysistrataproject.com

I think the project is a wonderful one which could only be improved by an accompanying modern sexual strike. Could it happen? Women of the world uniting in an act of civil disobedience that would cripple the patriarchal order. We all know that Bill Clinton wouldn't have lasted a day under such conditions. What about the present "leaders" of the world?

anhaga

P. S. Peer Review probably isn't the right place for this entry, but let's leave it hear a while anyway.

Whilst obviously against the proposed modern day strike I wish the venture well, however it is worth considering how much success the project would have against the policies of Sadaam Hussein.

The success of Ganhdi and passsive protestors depends upon the forebearance of those they are protesting against. Against the despotic, they are only successful at fearful cost. I am not favouring attacking Iraq (you can't start a war because your Dad didn't have the guts to do it when he had the chance.) merely pointing out that we should be proposing alternative answers, not just saying war is wrong.

Mc Kay writes:
"we should be proposing alternative answers, not just saying war is wrong."
Agreed, and I am sorry if I wasn't clear on that issue. The whole idea of the readings is not only to protest, but to start a (hopefully) productive dialogue on alternatives. I was intrigued by the project because of that very thing. So often activism is simply raw emotion without much direction, and this seemed to have both a viewpoint and a further agenda.
P.S. The strike would be something, wouldn't it?

I must agree that the strike would not likely have equal impact on all parties to the "conflict". One has doubts whether the President of Iraq would notice any change in the responsiveness of his subjects. (I don't really want to think about the private life of the President of the U. S.) I'm quite sure that the group that would be most (physically) damaged by such an act of civil-disobedience would be the women of the world. I would never seriously recommend the strike for this reason alone. If the safety of women taking part could in some inconceivable way be guaranteed, I would say "go for it!"

I think the entry should someday be revised into a retrospective discussion of the intentions and effects of the project: how many countries, cities, languages, individuals, etc. participated and did it make a difference. That is, if we're all still here in a month.

I guess what I'm saying is that I think the subject is worth an entry, but the subject is far from closed.

anhaga

anhaga,
I am laughing with joy at your insightfulness. You are so very right! I agree also about the nature of the post, and I apologise for putting what I now see as an obviously unfinished work up for comment. Its such an interesting idea for public protest, though, that I felt it was info-worthy. In addition, I wanted to see what other intelligent beings thought of it.
For my own info, though, what would a veteran of h2g2 have done with this post? The Flea Market maybe? I was kind of stumped.

I can't speak for veterans, not being one myself. Personally, I think it should stay here for a bit longer so people can find out about the project and then move it over the the alternative guide for a while. After March 3 I think you should expand it a little as I described above, making it a work of history, describing what went on and what it did. Then it should go into Peer Review and hopefully into the edited guide.
But what do I know?

anhaga

Here's a long discussion where people have been voicing their opinions on the war with Iraq. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/F19585?thread=200429 There's no need to discuss the politics of the situation here. If it's a fact that this Lysistrata Project is being planned, then it's appropriate to tell about it in the Edited Guide. The entry seems brief right now, might benefit from a few more paragraphs. Also I'm skeptical that this will be "the world's first international art project serving as an anti-war protest."

Subcom. Deidzoeb, herder of AGG/GAG, denizen of the Underguide A928929:

Jeez, what a name. thanks for the clarification. I think Quitpinchinme is safe on the reality of the project. I also agree with you that it may not be the first such event (history is a long time, and didn't Aristophanes stage a little play called Lysistrata at the Dionysia in 411 B. C.? I guess that wasn't an international event), but that issue could be solved by the insertion of a phrase such as "billed by organizers as".

I still think the complete entry can't be written until after the performances are finished.

I have to get some sleep.

"I still think the complete entry can't be written until after the performances are finished."

It would be nice to add more after the performances, but it would also be nice if this entry hit the Guide in time for people to find out about it and still attend or participate. (Not sure how long it takes for entries to work through the system.)

Theoretically this is supposed to be an evolving Guide, and entries can be updated later. I'm not sure how often that happens either, but people could use conversations attached to a guide entry for adding what they saw or how they felt about the event.

Good night, anhaga.

What you say is why I think the entry should hang around in Peer Review for a while. If a Scout is interested in it s(he) will understand what's going on, having read these postings, until after the performances and then send it up to the editors. At least, that's what I'd do if I were a Scout. Unless Quitpinchinme didn't have any interest in tinkering around with the entry over the next few weeks, in which case, the entry is still in the unedited guide for people to find.
I think it's good to have it in Peer Review where there's a lot of traffic.

Oh, yeah.

Hi again,
Thanks for your input. Now I feel as if I have choices about what to do with my little paragraph, and I am glad to think that it could possibly even have a life past the event itself.
It is a legitimate project - it has been profiled on American National Public Radio, among other places. I float in the circle where its creators work and play, which is how I found out about it.
And honestly, I just thought it was an interesting event worth mentioning. Hey, its a funny play.
I also am skeptical about it being the first 'international art protest' but so far have found no research to prove this is erroneous. If anyone knows of an event that preceded this, let me know. ( No fair emailing an anti-war cartoon to a friend in Bora Bora!)
I suppose I will just journal from here about the events I observe leading up to the protest and the aftermath, record my own experience and try to put more together from there.
Cheers
C

anhaga

As for where a h2g2 veteran would have put this?

Plenty of possible places, all depends on the direction you're most interested in going.

The h2g2 Speakers Corner -- A756605
Ask h2g2 -- Askh2g2
The Collaborative Writing Workshop -- Writing-Collaborative

I think you'd probably get the most response at ask h2g2....

Would you be interested in removing this one from Peer Review, then?


Mikey

Would you be interested in removing this one from Peer Review, then?

Yes, and how kind of you to ask since I obviously have not figured out how to make that happen on my own. Help!
Thanks
C

If you go to the peer review site (there should be a link on any H2G2 page, but here's another)http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/PeerReview, find your entry in the list and there will be an asterisk to the right of it (if your using Brunel. In goo and alabaster you'll see the word "remove") Click there and your entry will be removed from Peer Review.
Then you can "edit" your entry and submit it for review in another forum if you wish.

anhaga