At Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Chinese performnace troupe Shen Yun featured drummers, dancers and propaganda that surprised some audiences. Some were OK with the message, but some were offended.
In the days since Shen Yun Performing Arts, the Chinese drum and dance troupe, left Atlanta to move onto the next stop on its perpetual tour, conversation continued to rumble about the shows they'd performed at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
Some loved the performance, but commenters on Inside Access were upset by the Falun Gong politics of the show, "subtle as a taser shot to the noggin," the AJC review said. It's not that commenters necessarily disagree or deny that persecution has taken place in China. They were surprised to see it — especially a few violent scenes, one involving a taser and another where a mother and child are beaten — in a show promoted as a music-and-acrobatic spectacular
Wrote Marilee Coughlin:
While the dancers are fabulous, and the costumes are gorgeous, I felt like I was at a revival or brain-washing session. … it was billed as a family show, but I question whether children should see a show where a mother and child are beaten by black-shirted men and the mother dragged off stage, apparently dead – then on the garish screen, she can be seen "ascending" accompanied by monks. Creepy sums up parts of the show quite well.
Local Falun Gong groups sponsored the show, but people I've heard from said it wasn't adequate warning that politics might enter into a performance touted as family friendly. The show has taken a drubbing in international press, but AJCer Howard Pousner talked with several audience members who weren't offended by the message, but they weren't expecting it either. (You can read his entire story, "Many Atlantans OK with Chinese dance trouple's politics.") Several said they were fine with it: they wanted to know the other side of the story.
Here's what another commenter, KJ, had to say:
My recommendation for the show's creators.. [sic] If you want to focus on the message and political struggle, do it. The world would write rave reviews about a play or show that took an issue straight on. You probably couldn't do the show in China or that would be the last show, but I believe the rest of the world prefers an "in your face" approach. State your message and stir it up.
I asked for a response from the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre's PR agency, and received this statement from J. Barkley Russell on behalf of the local presenting organizations, not Cobb Energy Centre itself:
On behalf of the presenting organizations, we acknowledge the concerns expressed by some attendees at the Shen Yun performances regarding the sensitive content in certain sections of the show. As in years past, our brochures, window posters, website and press releases disclosed the show's presenting organizations, New Times Cultural and Education Center, Inc. (NTCEC) and the Southeast US Falun Dafa Association—they have presented the show since it began appearing in Atlanta, four years ago.
In the future we will consider adding information to our materials that references the show's content. We hope this has addressed your concerns.
I didn't see this show, but in the commercials, billboards, and even the press materials, I didn't see anything explicit about the show's point of view, except for a passing reference about Chinese traditions before Communism.
On my own, I would have stayed to watch. Reporterly curiosity means I sit through a lot of things the surprise me, whether they delight or horrify. But it's entirely different to see a show for work than to see a show with friends or family.
I wonder how common an experience this is. The closest situation I can recall is an early screening of "Million Dollar Baby." The the mood in the theater changed as the movie became less about boxing and more about — surprise! — assisted suicide.
I'd love to hear your thoughts and experience on this. Have you been surprised or offended by an unexpected political message in art, whether on stage, in the movies or elsewhere? What responsibility do organizations and venues have to tell audiences beforehand? Should audiences be expected to do their own digging?
(Ajc.com, January 21, 2010)
