You do realize that the above comment is...... just wrong on so many levels!
Posted on 07/22/2003 6:40:00 AM PDT by chambley1
County Board members said Saturday they have neither the power nor the intention to stop a troupe called Puppetry of the Penis from performing at the county-operated Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre, despite complaints that the show’s content makes it inappropriate for a municipal venue.
Practicing what troupe members call the “ancient art of genital origami,” Puppetry of the Penis is slated to perform at the Spectrum from July 22 to Aug. 17. Performers manipulate their private parts into everything from a hamburger to their signature effort, the Eiffel Tower.
A few Arlingtonians are not amused.
“We should not be pandering to those who confuse artistic expression with boorish exhibitionism,” said Richard Kelsey, a local attorney who is the Republican nominee for County Board in the fall.
“I am embarrassed that our county is the first in the United States to allow this production in a publicly funded venue,” Kelsey said. “Its contents far exceed our community standards.”
Even one County Board member, Chris Zimmerman, seemed unsure that Rosslyn Spectrum was the appropriate setting for the show.
“The nature of this production makes a lot of people in this community uncomfortable,” he said.
But other board members said that they have no authority to censor Puppetry of the Penis, which is renting the Rosslyn Spectrum space and is not receiving any subsidy from the county.
“The public always has the right to choose what they see, what they don’t want to see,” said Vice Chairman Barbara Favola. “There are freedom-of-expression issues here . . . in this county, we’ve always valued freedom of speech.”
County Manager Ron Carlee said that the county could run into legal problems if it tried to restrict what performers can do on stage.
“We do not regulate legitimate art content,” Carlee said.
Carlee said the group would be paying $16,000 to rent the space, with the funds used to help support community-based arts groups.
Puppetry of the Penis also is playing venues in Philadelphia and Seattle this summer, with additional productions slated for the United Kingdom and Australia in the fall.
I certainly won't be attending, but I do admit to a being a little curious. The Eiffel Tower?
The hamburger is the one you don't want to see - makes me want to protectively cross my legs just thinking about it... Why? Er... don't know if you've heard the British expression 'meat and two veg' - but they twistthe veg! Urhhhher!
You do realize that the above comment is...... just wrong on so many levels!
Since HBO is a national company, I assume your "community" is the country, and your agent of enforcement over their content would be the federal government.
So I am, in fact, correct in saying that you want the federal government to control the content of provider of a pay-to-view service.
I like how you beat around the bush, without actually saying it.
Try saying it honestly - "I want the federal government to enforce control over content of a service people have to pay to view." and see if it sounds conservative to you.
And who decides what content is "decent" enough to be seen by willing adults. Would that be you? Some appointed board of censors? Our elected representatives?
Will shows with gun violence be banned? Or just ones that show naked penises? What about a show that features a shot of Michaelangelo's David? Or is that excempt because its art? Who decides what is art? A committee of "artists" from Greenwhich Village? A church group in Idaho? Will revolutionary language be banned? Or just the F-word? What about the N-word? What about the word "abortion"?
Its nice to speak in platitudes about "community standards" but lets get down to the nitty gritty of how the government will enforce this power and who will control these decisions over content that you want to make it illegal for adults to view.
In tribute to Bubba.... :0
In tribute to Bubba.... :0
In tribute to Bubba.... :0
(not for reasons you might guess)..hahaha... :)
This cries out for CENSORSHIP!
County Manager Ron Carlee said that the county could run into legal problems if it tried to restrict what performers can do on stage.
Is he saying that because the SCOTUS declared sodomy a protected act, now ANYTHING goes - anwhere???
“We do not regulate legitimate art content,” Carlee said.
Since when is this sick s**t art??
One problem I see is that the board members said they had no choice but to allow it. So the freedom has been taken away. Any "expression" -no matter how obscene, disgusting, perverse, or offensive - MUST be allowed, or the ACLU will be crawling down someone's throat.
But expressions of a religious nature? VERBOTEN!
He thinks this is legitimate art?
The " puppetry " consists of men , naked men, pulling/twisting/manipulating their penises into weird shapes. This too has been on cabel, BTW.
Get In Touch With Us
Arlington County Cultural Affairs Division
3700 S. Four Mile Run Drive
Arlington, VA 22206-2304
24 hour hotline: 703-228-6966 phone: 703.228.1850
fax: 703.228.1851
email: arts@co.arlington.va.us.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.