"The Notion of Justice"
The absurd conceit that there is a special absolution for thespians and artists who engage in hugely destructive acts of violence against others is nonsensical.
If a celebrity figure behaves in a socially egregious manner, let alone a violently aggressive one, that person is as guilty of criminal transgression as any other member of society. Their artistic talent does not in any way, shape or form exclude them from being judged under the law as any one else might be.
An artistic genius who surrenders to the incredible impulse to murder someone is still a murderer. A trial has just recently concluded where a film producer in Western Canada entrapped a stranger by enticing him to a meeting at a remote and isolated place where he could be murdered.
It would appear that the experience of having killed someone was undertaken to satisfy curiosity, artistic curiosity. So that the murderer could satisfy his theatrical muse by writing about the experience with the full benefit of first-hand knowledge of the emotions, the struggle, the passion, and the evil deed done.
In the case of the French musical rock star Bertrand Cantat who beat his French girlfriend actress to death, the Lebanese-Canadian playwright, Wajdi Mouawad, Cantat's friend, argues extenuation through artistic genius. French film star Marie Trintignant was ferociously beaten around the head in a Lithuanian hotel, dying later of swelling of the brain.
A Lithuanian court had sentenced Cantat to an eight-year prison term for murder, and he had served half that time due to "good behaviour". All now must be forgiven; he has paid his due to society, as the famous phrase and sentiment goes. And, having done so, he should be admitted to Canada through a special Minister's permit to grace a Canadian stage in a theatrical performance.
Decency decrees otherwise, however, considering it an outrage that someone who murdered can be so cavalierly excused and re-assume his former role as a popular entertainer. The absurdity of the man being engaged to compose music for a series of plays based on Greek tragedy on the brutalization of women, and to act in the play as well, to emphasize the dichotomy of one who kills and who later repents, is in itself rather unpalatably theatrical.
Unfortunately, it appears to be a prevailing condition among the arts-and-theatrical set that one so talented should be excused any excesses. Much like the French director Roman Polanski, having raped a young underage girl being excused on the basis of his artistic directing genius from legal prosecution for his crime.
The artists involved at the NAC in the theatrical production of Des Femmes are prepared to stage a "unified show of support" for Cantat as "one of their own". A display of arrogant entitlement to special considerations not reflected in the public's opinion of celebrating and elevating a man who surrendered to the impulse to beat a woman to death.
But this is theatre, cutting edge and forgivingly avant garde as exemplified by the highly respected and wonderfully talented National Arts Centre's French artistic director Wajdi Mouawad. Who finds it most inconvenient that women's groups have raised a protest over his friend's involvement in the production of Des Femmes.
When all is said and done, Mr. Mouawad denies the logic of the protests, defends his friend's artistic talent and his "right to climb on stage", for he is not a criminal, since he has paid his due through his prison sentence. He is a murderer, yes, but his artistry surmounts and overshadows his status as one who had taken the life of another.
And he feels confident that the controversy will serve to clear peoples' minds, that it will be the pivot around which an important social discussion on "the notion of justice" and "what an artist is".
If a celebrity figure behaves in a socially egregious manner, let alone a violently aggressive one, that person is as guilty of criminal transgression as any other member of society. Their artistic talent does not in any way, shape or form exclude them from being judged under the law as any one else might be.
An artistic genius who surrenders to the incredible impulse to murder someone is still a murderer. A trial has just recently concluded where a film producer in Western Canada entrapped a stranger by enticing him to a meeting at a remote and isolated place where he could be murdered.
It would appear that the experience of having killed someone was undertaken to satisfy curiosity, artistic curiosity. So that the murderer could satisfy his theatrical muse by writing about the experience with the full benefit of first-hand knowledge of the emotions, the struggle, the passion, and the evil deed done.
In the case of the French musical rock star Bertrand Cantat who beat his French girlfriend actress to death, the Lebanese-Canadian playwright, Wajdi Mouawad, Cantat's friend, argues extenuation through artistic genius. French film star Marie Trintignant was ferociously beaten around the head in a Lithuanian hotel, dying later of swelling of the brain.
A Lithuanian court had sentenced Cantat to an eight-year prison term for murder, and he had served half that time due to "good behaviour". All now must be forgiven; he has paid his due to society, as the famous phrase and sentiment goes. And, having done so, he should be admitted to Canada through a special Minister's permit to grace a Canadian stage in a theatrical performance.
Decency decrees otherwise, however, considering it an outrage that someone who murdered can be so cavalierly excused and re-assume his former role as a popular entertainer. The absurdity of the man being engaged to compose music for a series of plays based on Greek tragedy on the brutalization of women, and to act in the play as well, to emphasize the dichotomy of one who kills and who later repents, is in itself rather unpalatably theatrical.
Unfortunately, it appears to be a prevailing condition among the arts-and-theatrical set that one so talented should be excused any excesses. Much like the French director Roman Polanski, having raped a young underage girl being excused on the basis of his artistic directing genius from legal prosecution for his crime.
The artists involved at the NAC in the theatrical production of Des Femmes are prepared to stage a "unified show of support" for Cantat as "one of their own". A display of arrogant entitlement to special considerations not reflected in the public's opinion of celebrating and elevating a man who surrendered to the impulse to beat a woman to death.
But this is theatre, cutting edge and forgivingly avant garde as exemplified by the highly respected and wonderfully talented National Arts Centre's French artistic director Wajdi Mouawad. Who finds it most inconvenient that women's groups have raised a protest over his friend's involvement in the production of Des Femmes.
When all is said and done, Mr. Mouawad denies the logic of the protests, defends his friend's artistic talent and his "right to climb on stage", for he is not a criminal, since he has paid his due through his prison sentence. He is a murderer, yes, but his artistry surmounts and overshadows his status as one who had taken the life of another.
And he feels confident that the controversy will serve to clear peoples' minds, that it will be the pivot around which an important social discussion on "the notion of justice" and "what an artist is".
Labels: Canada, Culture, Human Fallibility, Justice, Sexism, Society
posted by Pieface | 6:47 PM
4 Comments:
Things you need to consider regarding the Roman Polanski case:
1. There is no evidence of rape. An examination of the girl by a doctor does not corroborate with her lurid grand jury testimony. There is no evidence of forced anal or vaginal entry, nor evidence of oral penetration.
2. Polanski never admitted to rape. He pleaded guilty to "unlawful sexual intercourse" through a plea bargain to avoid a show-trial media circus.
3. It is an established fact that the judge in Polanski's case was declared unethical and removed from the case. It is this breach of ethics that caused Polanski to flee the United States.
4. The Swiss government was forced to release Polanski due to the failure of the LA DA to release information to them regarding the case. In other words, the same level of corruption exists in the Santa Monica courtroom today as it did in 1977.
I know all of this upsets your view of the Universe, but frankly, I don't care. I care about the truth, not the lynch-mob popular opinion.
These are the fine points of the law as some see the situation. And then there is the morality of an adult male seducing and having sex with a young girl. There are many in society, not necessarily those of the 'lynch-mob' sensibilities that hold this to be inexcusably immoral. There are laws, for a very good reason, to protect the vulnerable young from sexual exploitation, both male and female.
"These are the fine points of the law as some see the situation."
Fine points? More like big, gaping holes.
"And then there is the morality of an adult male seducing and having sex with a young girl."
There isn't any more proof that he "seduced" her any more than there is that he "raped" her. He pleaded guilty to "unlawful sex", which really isn't the same as rape according to California law. As for "seduction", I would say that neither of us is a witness to that.
"There are laws, for a very good reason, to protect the vulnerable young from sexual exploitation, both male and female."
The law is also there to protect defendants against false accusation. Let me put the shoe on the other foot. What if your son, or your husband, or your father was accused of raping a 13 year old girl? The first words out of your mouth would be "What proof do you have?". Any case against your male relative should be based upon physical evidence, not on what the girl says, or what the media says, or what the town-folk say. Polanski deserves the same due process as your hypothetical male relative does.
Hypothetical questions always lurch toward the personal to bring home the message. Here's another message: thank heavens that most men don't go out of their way to have sex with under-age girls.
Those that do should be prepared to pay the price of social disfavour. When it is a crime to engage in illegal sex with underage girls, it is usually a criminal act because society recognizes it to represent a vile immorality; the adult male should recognize the limits of social permissibility and his own responsibilities as a mature, thinking adult. Those who chose to be predators should also know there's a social price to pay.
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