More On Diversity

By Isaac Butler

I should also say that Roxane Gay positively nails the dynamics that shape these conversations whereever they occur.  And the dance she outlines should be very familiar to readers of Parabasis:

The time for outrage over things we already know is over. The call and response of this debate has grown tightly choreographed and tedious. A woman dares to acknowledge the gender problem. Some people say, “Yes, you’re right,” but do nothing to change the status quo. Some people say, “I’m not part of the problem,” and offer up some tired example as to why this is all no big deal, why this is all being blown out of proportion. Some people offer up submission queue ratios and other excuses as if that absolves responsibility. Some people say, “Give me more proof,” or, “I want more numbers,” or, “Things are so much better,” or, “You are wrong.” Some people say, “Stop complaining.” Some people say, “Enough talking about the problem. Let’s talk about solutions.” Another woman dares to acknowledge this gender problem. Rinse. Repeat.

Literally every discussion I've ever had about diversity in theaters works like this. And I agree with Gay that it's time for it fucking stop and I agree with her that I'm sick of talking about whether this problem really exists (it does) and if it exists whether or not it's a problem (it is). As she puts it, and as I tried to map out in the earlier post "Change requires intent and effort. It really is that simple."

RTWT here.

Comments

[Nikki]

What needs to be recognized is that the issue of diversity in theatre is one of power and privilege. Certain faces, authorial voices, and cultural standards of artistic excellence are privileged over others. In order for things to be changed (i.e. in order for artists of colour to be better represented and truly have equal access to opportunities), power needs to be SHARED, which means redistributed, which means artists in the majority working horizontally with artists in the margin, and yes, that those with power need to give some up. Everyone is implicated.

I'm speaking from a Canadian perspective but I imagine this applies across North America.