I was very surprised to read today of backlash against a Performance Artist named Rita Marcalo because of her plans to induce a seizure on the stage. Now I am an epileptic and I do not find this in the least bit offensive and I disagree with Epilepsy Action, who I am a member of, for many reasons. One of the reasons I do not agree with their complaint is due to my own fascination with my condition and my exploration of it through drama. Several years ago I wrote a monologue based on the situation surrounding and experience of my first Grand Mal Seizure and have work shopped it many times to explore its viability as a one man show so condemning this woman's work would be hypocritical of me. I have found that this exploration has helped me gain a better understanding of myself and my condition, and because I have given the script to other actors to work on and there have been small workshop performances of it, I have in fact raised awareness of the effects my condition has on me and others. My second problem is that as an artist I feel that censorship is wrong, the fact is that plays are allowed to say anything they want to say due to freedom of speech and I know some organisations feel thats not a good thing. After all why would Epilepsy Action want a woman with big ideas going out there and laying our condition bare doing something that Epilepsy Action itself is known for: spreading awareness of Epilepsy. Truth is I believe EA have taken this the wrong way and its unfair to criticise a Performance Artist like this. I do however have to voice my concern for her health and that I hope she truly comes through this performance safe and if she does have a seizure, remember its not guaranteed she will have one, its not one that causes permanent damage. I wish her all the best. For more information and another brilliant blogpost on this subject please follow this upcoming link to Allan Sutherland of the Guardian's blog where he goes into more detail.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/theatreblog/2009/nov/20/epilepsy-live-art-rita-marcalo
Xtofer
Thank you for writing about this. I read Sutherland's piece about it and I agree with you. (Oh, btw, I have epilepsy, too. LOL)
ReplyDeleteHello Xtofer, and Robin
ReplyDeleteI work at the Playhouse and am amazed and fascinated by the medias terribly negative, and unrepresentative, portrayal of this story. Not only in the uk, but all across the world, the arts council are getting it in the neck!
The story is being told as ´dancer is paid 15000 to fit on stage´. Evidently these people have never applied for an arts council grant - it´s not that simple!
Rita has been exploring epilepsy over a long period of time with pharmaceutical companies, scientists and academics. She is not any person who has wandered in from the street, but a respected dancer and is a Doctor of Philosophy. She will be supported by a full medical team during the work.
It is unfortunately typical of the media to focus on the negative and not on the positive. I was also sad to see Epilepsy Action quoting negatively on the story before speaking to either Rita, or the Playhouse. I really thought they could have spoken with the artist, who evidently is one of the very people to whom they are supposed to be giving a voice, before commenting so negatively.
Anyway, great to read your comments and once Rita is back in the country (she is in Lithuania working at the moment) hopefully she will be in a position to somewhat put the media at rest. However part of her aim was to generate debate and I suppose a lot of this has happened already, albeit quite a lot of it being unintelligent and ill informed. Fingers crossed when she returns she can redress the balance.
All the best!
Hi, Thank you for your comments I am glad this article has opened the doors for discussion. I am all for criticism and discussion of a subject but as someone who has experience of trying to get hold of arts council funding I think its incredibly unfair for that group to be attacked. I also want to take this opportunity to salute the courage of Rita and hope when she gets back from Lithuania the arts media, and media in general, will let her say her piece.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for all your comments, I especially want to say thanks to Anonymous from The Playhouse who has shed some more light on this situation. I wish you all the luck in the World with this project.