Posted on Jan 11, 2023
A play about censorship is censored — and free speech groups are fighting back
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https://www.npr.org/2023/01/10/ [login to see] /indecent-paula-vogel-censorship
PEN America and two other free speech groups are drawing national attention to Florida county school officials' decision to cancel a play that is itself about censorship.
Last week, Duval County Public School officials canceled a production of Paula Vogel's Indecent at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. Officials said the play about a play about a love affair between two women is "inappropriate," as reported by WJCT.
PEN America, along with The National Coalition Against Censorship and the Dramatists Legal Defense Fund released a statement condemning the decision and "urged school officials to rescind their decision and work with students to stage the play as planned."
Indecent is about the controversy surrounding a 1923 Broadway production of God of Vengeance, a Yiddish play by Sholem Asch. In the story, the daughter of a Jewish brothel owner falls in love with one of her father's prostitutes. Asch's script includes a love scene between the two women. The play was a hit in Europe and New York's downtown theater scene. But once it was translated into English and performed on Broadway, the entire cast was arrested and charged with obscenity
PEN America and two other free speech groups are drawing national attention to Florida county school officials' decision to cancel a play that is itself about censorship.
Last week, Duval County Public School officials canceled a production of Paula Vogel's Indecent at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. Officials said the play about a play about a love affair between two women is "inappropriate," as reported by WJCT.
PEN America, along with The National Coalition Against Censorship and the Dramatists Legal Defense Fund released a statement condemning the decision and "urged school officials to rescind their decision and work with students to stage the play as planned."
Indecent is about the controversy surrounding a 1923 Broadway production of God of Vengeance, a Yiddish play by Sholem Asch. In the story, the daughter of a Jewish brothel owner falls in love with one of her father's prostitutes. Asch's script includes a love scene between the two women. The play was a hit in Europe and New York's downtown theater scene. But once it was translated into English and performed on Broadway, the entire cast was arrested and charged with obscenity
A play about censorship is censored — and free speech groups are fighting back
Posted from npr.org
State of Florida
1st Amendment
Freedom of Speech
Art
Love
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."In response to NPR's request for comment on the free speech groups' condemnation of the cancellation, Duval County Public School representative Sonya Duke-Bolden writes, "Indecent contains adult sexual dialog that is inappropriate for student cast members and student audiences. It's that simple. The decision has no relevance to any legislation but is rather a function of our responsibilities to ensure students engage in educational activities appropriate for their age."
According to WJCT's Brendan Rivers, Douglas Anderson Principal Tina Wilson informed cast members that Indecent would be replaced by the Chekhov play The Seagull.
In an email to students, she wrote, "Although students were required to provide parental consent to appear in the original selection, a closer review of the mature content of 'Indecent' led us to the conclusion that 'Seagull' is better suited for a school production."
Indecent is, "about the purity of love, the strength within a community and the shallowness of those who try to silence identity," said Madeline Scotti, a member of the Douglas Anderson cast in an Instagram post. She urged people to read Vogel's play and God of Vengeance, "and have conversations we are being banned from having."
..."In response to NPR's request for comment on the free speech groups' condemnation of the cancellation, Duval County Public School representative Sonya Duke-Bolden writes, "Indecent contains adult sexual dialog that is inappropriate for student cast members and student audiences. It's that simple. The decision has no relevance to any legislation but is rather a function of our responsibilities to ensure students engage in educational activities appropriate for their age."
According to WJCT's Brendan Rivers, Douglas Anderson Principal Tina Wilson informed cast members that Indecent would be replaced by the Chekhov play The Seagull.
In an email to students, she wrote, "Although students were required to provide parental consent to appear in the original selection, a closer review of the mature content of 'Indecent' led us to the conclusion that 'Seagull' is better suited for a school production."
Indecent is, "about the purity of love, the strength within a community and the shallowness of those who try to silence identity," said Madeline Scotti, a member of the Douglas Anderson cast in an Instagram post. She urged people to read Vogel's play and God of Vengeance, "and have conversations we are being banned from having."
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How is a play about a lesbian affair occuring in a brothel appropriate for high school? What about a play where the FBI, and other government agencies join with private companies to block speech and journalism?
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