Kristen and I took a break from our harried schedule to go see a play by Eugene Ionesco. Rhinoceros is so titled because it is about the transformation of mankind into rhinos. Why would someone write a play about a bunch of people becoming rhinos? It's absurd (I crack me up)! However, his point is that it is easy to be drawn into the unthinking, violent and agressive herd mentality. A herd of rhinos is known as a murder, I mean a crash.
While I appreciated the reference to Nazism and Facism, the metaphor poorly fit the adaptation to technology. However, I suppose that simply by blogging, I am letting go of my individuality and embracing a technological herd mentality. The adaptation would have fit nicely with the present American sociocultural climate and the rise of facism and militarism in contemporary American politics. However, I suspect that such a statement was self-censored by the Miami adaptation crew as too controversial prior to the play's adaptation. Ironically, that would mean that the playwrights had lost their own sense of individuality and defiance of herd mentality.
Posted by Mendon at October 7, 2006 10:29 PMNot the playwrites, but the playwrights? Am I getting that straight?
Posted by: Ma at October 8, 2006 10:41 AMThink, shipwright or wainwright. Wright is used nowadays as a conjunctive noun to describe a worker that builds/creates something. However, even these uses are archaic. Generally, the verbal form of the word has been lost, but we still use it in its past tense context, "wrought."
Posted by: Mendon at October 8, 2006 12:40 PMYs, that is how I understood it. Good, always nice to know we are on the same page. I love you.
Posted by: Ma at October 8, 2006 2:54 PMJon and I saw Rhinoceros today. I usually really like any sort of play, especially when I know a cast member, but I left disappointed. It was wanting in meaning. I agree with you; they did a poor job in adapting it to the technology theme. I feel like it could have been done, but they failed to connect all the pieces to make sense. Although the herd mentality was talked about in the program, the performance failed to convey the connection between herd mentality and the transformation into rhinoceroses, and the connection of these with technology.
Posted by: Hayley at October 8, 2006 6:27 PMPS I also thought the main character spent way too much time pulling up his pants. Perhaps that was a part of his slobby characterization... but I doubt it.
Posted by: Hayley at October 8, 2006 8:00 PMWell, at least he wasn't pulling his pants down!
Posted by: Ma at October 9, 2006 10:33 AMOften plays are changed to protect the 'innocent'. They being the audiences they suppose are pure as fallen snow and need protecting from a harsh reality. Whether 'they',the actors, pull pants up or down becomes moot when they are really rhinos anyway. Do rhinos herd? That's scary don't you think? Mostly I believe they are loners unless they mate. That, in and of itself, would destroy any credibility for me.
Another issue would be as to how a herd of rhinos would creep up on American politics. The birds and dirt might be evident mightn't it?This whole thing sounds "absurd" to me too. Perhaps it is a comedy of many things as well.
If you have netflix you should put the power of nightmares in your que. It is an amazing BBC presentation.
Posted by: Rae at October 11, 2006 5:55 PMHey Rae, you sent us the power of nightmares. It's fabulous and frightening at the same time. We also got wholphin and have thoroughly enjoyed it (except the boris karlov business, it was just too hard to watch what with the bubbliness).
Posted by: Mendon at October 11, 2006 6:42 PM