I had thought that much of individual cancelling was a myth. WOKE tends to throw cold disavowing on such a thing. I thought this until FACEBOOK, that champion of all things WOKE, cancelled my account because of some bland repost. I am actually relieved because I despise so much of FACEBOOK'S culture and process. It is in itself a reposting of the 1950s culture so clear in the film "Pleasantville" and the framework of The Truman Show. The extreme authoritarian control it has over millions of people is terrifying and something Orwell himself could never imagine. The bland demands it makes of everyday individuals reveal much of The Brave New World of Aldous Huxley. Those pictures of children and grand children and family moments all belong to FACEBOOK. They are no longer yours. Your life is no longer yours. And it is so pleasant ... that any challenge will receive swift retribution.
So Cancelled
The sad thing is, I can no longer blame the fascists. The fascists now control the left and the right of political and social persuasion. Sad really! Politics, big business and social control have merged in such a way that old definitions have disappeared. And I have lost many years of family images, key moments, posted pictures and videos from shows and major events ... as have many in the same predicament. At least, unlike in the UK, I haven't been thrown into jail because of my FB post! But I suspect this kind of thing is underway. Who would have thought the UK would become so authoritarian!
The Disappearing Eye
So on this day, I am meeting with a colleague at Hudson's Restaurant in Canberra to discuss lighting for my new production of ROMEO AND JULIET. It was going very well until I noticed I couldn't see her right eye. Her face was disappearing. No panic! I have experienced this before over twenty years. Seems it is the first sign of a migraine and not necessarily brain cancer or a stroke! So we simply kept the meeting going. We made great progress on the lighting for the show. It will be really spectacular.
Tapas and drinks from the bar may be brought into the theatre where tables of four can be booked by audiences. If they are more shy, we still have rows of seating behind the cabaret style. But this will be a production like no other from DTC.
The deeper fear I have is that as my vision for the work is forecast, elements of my life are being disappeared by authoritarian despots of collegial traitors to art and free thought. The alliance of huge businesses such as Facebook and others in the pursuit of dollars and control share little in common with the ideological allies they protect.
Suddenly my art and my existence is challenged by the fear of unseen hands using daggers to stab all I feel as being important in the back and the front and the face ... and many colleagues would stand by and smile smugly in knowing agreement ...
Joe Woodward
BOOK HERE FOR ROMEO AND JULIET:
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