We finished the Laramie Project (a few weeks ago, now), and I think it went well - of course, in hindsight, there are always things that I wish had gone differently/I'd done differently - but the parts that matter rang true to the audience, and it made an impact, which, as a director, is all I can ask for - that the work I do matters, and does something, changes something, makes people think.
Some of the ideas I wanted to get across with this piece were the notions of community, violence, and healing.
A few days later, the tragedies at Sandy Hook and a Chinese elementary school happened.
Both left children killed.
Both communities said that they were shocked - because they are "nice communities. Things like that don't happen here."
I don't see how saying, "Look, we aren't like this. It was a mistake. Things like that don't happen here - it is a nice community, good people," fixes anything. Changes anything.
I can see it as a method of processing, a method of distancing - but I don't know how that helps, in the long run. The crimes are left unclaimed, and then nothing changes.
But if the crime is claimed - if communities said, "Yes, this did happen here. We raise people like that here. There is something here that allows these things to happen," then a diologe is opened that allowed change.
This claiming doesn't have to happen in the aftermath. That is a time for mourning and healing. But as a community heals, the crime can't drop from the consciousness. The crime needs to stay relevant - needs to be talked about, to prevent future tragedies.
I don't understand people sometimes.
I do understand that we can't distance ourselves from tragedies - it won't change anything.
<3
Some of the ideas I wanted to get across with this piece were the notions of community, violence, and healing.
A few days later, the tragedies at Sandy Hook and a Chinese elementary school happened.
Both left children killed.
Both communities said that they were shocked - because they are "nice communities. Things like that don't happen here."
I don't see how saying, "Look, we aren't like this. It was a mistake. Things like that don't happen here - it is a nice community, good people," fixes anything. Changes anything.
I can see it as a method of processing, a method of distancing - but I don't know how that helps, in the long run. The crimes are left unclaimed, and then nothing changes.
But if the crime is claimed - if communities said, "Yes, this did happen here. We raise people like that here. There is something here that allows these things to happen," then a diologe is opened that allowed change.
This claiming doesn't have to happen in the aftermath. That is a time for mourning and healing. But as a community heals, the crime can't drop from the consciousness. The crime needs to stay relevant - needs to be talked about, to prevent future tragedies.
I don't understand people sometimes.
I do understand that we can't distance ourselves from tragedies - it won't change anything.
<3
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