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Thursday, November 12, 2009
Are the Classics Relevant Today?
The NY Times reports today on a $3.7 million grant to establish an independent production company, Theater of War, to visit 50 military bases staging readings of Sophocles' Ajax and Philoctetes. It reminds me of Jean Anouilh's adaptation of Antigone as a part of the World War II French resistance effort. What do you think of the Pentagon spending money on theatrical performances of plays written by Sophocles a couple of thousand years ago? I did find out from this article that Sophocles had been a general - who knew?
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I agree with the article that Theater of War will have a positive effect on how troops deal with mental or emotional issues brought on by war. Many of the troops returning from war deal with post-traumatic stress yet because they are soldiers, they have learned to keep these feelings hidden from others. The plays that Theater of War are performing were written during a time when wars were a common occurrence. The Greeks created these plays to help deal with the same issues our soldiers are facing today. Plays provided a way for the Greeks to express passion for their heroes and place themselves in the hero’s perspective. Unlike today’s television programs, plays allowed the audience to become part of the action. It is this connection between the audience and actors that makes plays a great tool for encouraging both active troops and veterans to confront their issues and receive the help they need.
ReplyDeleteBeing a theatre geek...I think it's great. As people say: "history repeats itself", so I think it would be very interesting to see how Sophocle's plays relate to the things going on today. Plus, the troops need entertainment!
ReplyDeleteI am taking a classical mythology course here at Baylor right now, and I love how the material from so long ago is still found in modern works today. Our teacher discovers themes and quotes and asks us if we have ever heard them anywhere else. I'm all for the Pentagon spending, or investing, money in works that will be here and probably outlive humans and exist well into the future.
ReplyDeleteI always agree that studying or perhaps honoring the past makes way for a better future so building and honoring the classics of mythology not only honors our troops but also provides another cultural event for us to enjoy and appreciate which is always good
ReplyDeleteI think its a great idea. When you think of the pentagon you don't really think that they would be spending much time on theatrical things. I too think it will help soldiers deal with post traumatic stress disorders. Without history, its hard to understand the things were dealing with here and now. I think the troops will enjoy this and it will give them a break
ReplyDeleteI think it is good to use the classics to help soldiers in the war. Theatrical plays wouldn't be thought of to use by the gocernment I think but I am glad they are trying to help soldiers deal with the images of war.
ReplyDeleteit depends on who they're relevent to, because they won't be relevent to everyone, but to people that care about it more so than people that don't. It seems like a lot of money going to a few people to me
ReplyDeleteI have many family friends in the military and I'm going that route as well. During War time the typical soldier goes through a lot emotionally and it is good to have these performances for them to take their mind of the current events.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I have friends at war and they could care less about classics. While some of them are older, many are young, and just want to enjoy themselves. I have a friend in Japan that's always wanting to see current movies, he wouldn't care about classics. 3.7 million dollars is way too much to be spending on something that will only appeal to certain people.
ReplyDeleteI think it is good that they are receiving some really great classical plays, but I don't see it entertaining them like some modern day ones would.
ReplyDeleteI think that in the realm where hardness and mindless obediance are sometimes required, it is good to introduce philosophy and emotion to help stabilize and care for the whole person. The classics are good to us because they encourage us to be interdisciplinary. To extend ourselves to the roles of other individuals and other circumstances through imagination, while simultaneously applying a logical thought model as more objective by not actually being the characters themselves.
ReplyDeleteFor these military personel, appreciating the beauty history has derived out of itself, and taking pause at the exposition of life on stage, enhances their mental faculties and excersises those more global parts that may not always get to come out in the stress of the other parts of the job.