Lysistrata Project, "a theatrical act of dissent", claims to be "The First-Ever World-Wide Theatre Event For Peace". On March 3rd, they hope to put on productions or readings of Aristophanes' pacifist play Lysistrata around the world, to help discourage what they call "the Bush Administration's rush to war on Iraq".
Of course, the war may be over by then, but I see a larger objection. Everyone knows the basic plot of the Lysistrata: the women of Athens and Sparta get together and arrange a sex-strike to force their warrior-husbands to the bargaining table and end the Peloponnesian War. The Lysistrata Project suggests no such action (or rather lack of action). Is that because they don't care enough about peace to give up sex even temporarily? Or are none of these thousands of peace activists sleeping with soldiers or sailors to start with? Either possibility seems a bit pathetic, and I don't mean the good, theatrical, kind of pathos.
Posted by Dr. Weevil at February 16, 2003 01:19 AMA) Thanks for putting up the Democracy In Iraq button.
B) You know, there was a time in this culture where foreswearing sexual relations--ala monks--was considered a personal sacrifice, something honorable. Taking a vow of chastity or poverty or whatever. But I don't suppose these chamberlainettes have any such notion of honorable self-sacrifice.
Posted by: Dean Esmay on February 16, 2003 09:39 AMI wonder if they realize that Lysistrata was a comedy, and that the bit about giving up sex for peace was one of the jokes.
Posted by: Robert Crawford on February 16, 2003 10:08 AMYo.
They're doing it. Kinda creepy, huh?