Venus Rising

ProfileIssue: Sagittarius 08 & Honest Self Expression

Saying It Like It Is

Lysistrata reading, St. Louis, MOThe act of reading a play as an act of protest was important, because it gave people who were disinclined to march in the streets or write letters to the editor or call their congressperson a means of expressing themselves in a way which felt both pointed and playful, but still entirely non-confrontational. "Lysistrata Project" participants also felt their voice multiplied exponentially by their awareness of thousands of other people doing exactly the same thing at exactly the same time. And, it was flat-out fun - something activists aren’t usually associated with.

Both immediately afterward and in the years since, I’ve had the great fortune to hear from numerous participants, many of whom spoke of their participation in terms of re-validating their artistic careers – or, more specifically, that it renewed their sense of relevance as artists. And I’ve been hearing a lot more discussion lately in academic circles, conferences, and activist groups, about the vital role that the arts can play in galvanizing people to awareness and action.

Kathryn as frogI think it’s actually that leap from awareness to action that is really the crux of the issue when it comes to solving the world’s problems. Many people know what’s going on, but far fewer actually do something about it. That participation gap is a serious problem; a product of overwhelm, inertia, and despair, which are very challenging hurdles to overcome. I’ve discovered that entertaining people, helping them laugh into the void, is one of the quickest, most meaningful ways to bridge the gap.

And while my ego wants to reach everyone and save everything (and, yes, get a few rewards and accolades in the process), in reality, that is not possible. Sometimes you can only touch a few people here and there, and the fact is you probably won't ever know who you touched or how you touched them. Most of what artists and activists do is a giant leap of faith.

I also don’t think anyone should ever worry about preaching to the choir. Even people who are totally committed to a cause can get depressed, burned out, or scared. Everyone needs to be cheered up and cheered on every once in a while. Or, as the actress Alfre Woodard put it, “Even the choir needs a good hymn.”

For more information about Kathy Blume's one-woman show, The Boycott, Please visit  www.theboycottplay.com. Venus Rising Magazine highly recommends it!