The Vagina Monologues at Marquette

The other night my fiance and I took in The Vagina Monologues at Marquette. Well, sort of at Marquette, I don't think it was officially sanctioned by the school and I'm not sure it was actually on campus grounds.

It was the first time I had seen the play (though I had seen a couple scenes acted out and heard about some others). I have to say first that it was hit. Well acted, alternately funny (Ms. Ali Fagnan acted out a monologue that had me laughing so hard my face literraly hurt), horrifying, deep, and thought provoking.

The basic premise of the play, as I understood it, is that women are alienated from their own femaleness. Patriarchal culture forces women to see themselves as the other, as the "second sex."

The symbol of the vagina is used quite nicely to this effect. A common theme in the monologues is that women find their vaginas ugly or disturbing and are called upon to see it instead as something beautiful and essential to who they are. In other words, their femaleness is not something to fear and loathe, but to embrace and celebrate.

The standard criticism of The Vagina Monologues is that it is vulgar and reduces women to their "sexual parts." Nothing could be further from the truth. The play is about empowering women to claim their femaleness as something powerful, and the language is intended to subvert hostile actions and intentions against women.

Finally, in keeping with a long tradition of performing the monologues to increase awareness of violence against women, this version of the play donated all the proceeds to pay for two surgeries to repair vaginal fistulas.

The play's candid look at violence (both physical and psychological) is probably the most remarkable and startling feature of it.

More on "My Name is Rachel Corrie."

The Marquette Tribune has given a very positive and well articulated review of Ms. Jennifer Shine's Senior capstone Play "My Name Is Rachel Corrie."

As I mentioned in a previous post, I found the play extremely moving and informative. And Ms. Shine's performance was splendid!

In the same issue, there is an article about studies claiming business students cheat more frequently than other students

If that is true think of the ramfications this has for our pro-big business, deregulated markets social set up!!

My Name is Rachel Corrie: Marquette Performance

Last night I attended a one woman play at Marquette. The Play, My Name is Rachel Corrie was the senior capstone of Marquette actress Jennifer Shine.

Rachel Corrie was a peace activist killed by an Israeli Bulldozer in Gaza in 2003. At the time Ms. Corrie was attempting to stand between the Bulldozer and a Palestinian home that was being torn down to pave the way for Israeli settlers.

Ms. Shine gave a remarkable performance as Rachel. As one audience member remarked "you made me think you were Rachel." No higher praise can be given an actor than that and Ms. Shine truly did accomplish this feat. Her performance was passionate and moving, she brought tears to the eyes of many in the audience last night.

I found the play important for several reasons. First, the play communicates Rachel Corries' passion for a better world. But more than that, the dialog - consisting entirely of the actual words of Ms. Corrie from journals and emails - shows us a young woman who is inherently positive and believes in her fellow humans, but whose faith and hope is severely challenged by the tragedy of the Palestinian people.

Second, by communicating the plight of the Palestinians through the eyes of an outsider, we learn a great deal about the suffering they endure.

Truly memorable are Rachel's words about the people of Gaza. She describes the agony of numerous check points, the economic disaster, the bulldozing of homes and green houses, bullets whizzing by constantly, homes full of tank blasts, children pyschological damaged by their worn torn lives.

The horror of occupation is brought vividly to life in this play through the words of a woman of courage and passion.

Jennifer Shine told the audience in a Q and A session afterward that she plans to continue doing theatre for the purpose of social justice.

Let us hope so. She's a gifted actress. The arts can communicate much to us and often transform us as well.

In this case an inspiring young woman who lost her life fighting for a better world spoke to us and challenged us. Let us hope we all learned something.

At the play Peace Action Wisconsin set up a table to convey accurate information on the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Check out their web page, as they are very informative.