It’s remarkable how little we care sometimes. Our collective concern for accountability of government, coherent and relevant news media, and general social responsibility seems not only to be waning, but a downright “bummer” to even bring up. Perhaps this is why few people – outside of certain, activist circles – do.
This past weekend was the last of my performances in a production called House Arrest, written by playwright Anna Deavere Smith and produced by the Kuumba Players group of Washington, D.C.
From the Kuumba Players’ website:
The KUUMBA Players, a Washington-based community theater group, seeks to address issues of social conscience through performances by artists from the Washington area.
KuumbaPlayers.org
A pithy description of House Arrest:
Anna Deavere Smith’s House Arrest is an exhilarating, thought-provoking and highly theatrical examination of the current state of democracy in America and the dangers posed by a media that equates trivia with news.
I think sometimes there is just serendipity. My life, on occasion, has an order to it that seems to really connect time and place. Becoming acquainted with and knowing those who have impacted my perceptions and attitudes, finding love, developing as an artist, and all the personal, crazy adventures, stories and memories I share with such a variety of people, all have woven themselves – it seems – into a tapestry of trial and error, successes and mistakes, beauty and ugliness… and I have no regrets.
So, it was interesting to have done this show at the same time that our federal government decided it could no longer conceal its dysfunctionality (not a word, apparently), and nearly shut itself down under the guise of partisanship.
I have interned on Capitol Hill, was editor-in-chief of my high school newspaper, and for a long part of my recent, young adult life was steadfastly interested in both journalism and politics; however, I find now that I truly do not enjoy writing about it, or even discussing it with others as much as I once did. Maybe there is less to discuss. It seems like all that any intelligent conversation can center around is how little our elected officials do for the public good. Even party-comparisons about this party being better than that one have grown tired. Maybe those in public office can only do so much, and it’s less than we would (like to) think. Maybe that philosophy gives too much understanding for weakness.
Everything is political in life, and I still find elected politics worth paying attention to… if maybe not exciting. I’ve decided that my new passion is the artistic journey. I see this as part of the path to self-realization. This correlates with our political and media culture because our society, our generation, and the social constraints we operate under are all a part of how we develop. I am a free man (literally – check out my last name), but I’ve learned there is a necessary balance one must find between the self and surroundings, lest one be a lone hermit – which, for the time being, I intend not to be. No matter how self-realized, or freely expressive one may be, there has to be a relationship between the individual and their environment. I think our media and our politics are detached – and detach us – from our environment. I also think a certain amount of public and media connection is important. It’s an intriguing dynamic.
So… good thing this wasn’t a term paper, because it certainly was not a concise bit of writing. But, I feel good about pursuing performance and artistic expression, and I appreciated the fact that the subject matter and timing of this particular play seemed relevant beyond just myself acting in it.
