Who Gets to Define Where the Line Is?

I watched the clip of Still/Here before reading the two articles and I did not understand what was going on. I noticed that the phrase “tell me how to fight” was repeated in the background. I was not sure what it meant exactly, but I thought it had to do with internal conflict at first. After watching the clip, I read The Revolution Will be Danced written by Zita Allen. After reading about what Still/Here actually represents, the dance made a lot more sense to me. I think one of the reasons that I am not a big fan of modern dance is the fact that most of the time I do not understand the message it is conveying. I feel like I am not a very deep thinker so it amazes me when people can analyze art like dance and discuss the symbolization and the themes. It makes me a little frustrated that I do not see the way some people do, but once I learn what the dance actually means, I enjoy it a little bit more.

I remember that Susan mentioned that Arnie Zane had AIDS and that was the cause for his early death so I was not surprised to learn that this dance represented people with terminally ill disease like AIDS and breast cancer. Arlene Croce wrote an article that critiques Bill T. Jones and I have no problem with criticism, but the fact the she is judging something she has never seen before is what makes me mad. Like the cliché saying “never judge a book by its cover,” people should not judge anything without getting to really know it, whether it be books, people, movies, paintings, or dances. I try my best to keep an open mind when it comes to new things, and if I still do not like it at the end, then at least I gave it a shot. But right off the bat, Arlene Croco is attacking Bill T. Jones and his work that she has not even seen.

Croce stated, “By working dying people into his act, Jones is putting himself beyond the reach of criticism. I think of him as literally undiscussable,” and that Jones had “crossed the line between theatre and reality.” But who gets to decide where the line is drawn. Every time a controversial subject is revealed in movies, books, or in this case a dance, people go crazy and they automatically start attacking the writer or creator. However, I do not think promoting controversial issues is a negative thing. I think the people who have the guts to bring up controversial problems are amazing. Everyone has the right to discuss and express whatever they please, and controversial subjects should not be as tabooed in society. I actually believe people like when controversial topics are brought up; it excites and sparks interests in people and it gives them an excuse to argue.

I honestly do not find the topic of death to be very shocking. Death is inevitable and it is all around us, so what is the big deal if Jones incorporated it into his dance. Death is a part of life. I think showing how ill people struggle to survive is a very interesting concept. I believe some people need to see what it is like to deal with a serious disease. It was also very clever of him to incorporate the voices of the survivors into his dance. Even though modern dance might not be my favorite thing to watch, I still respect it and all that it represents.

Beatrice Margolin says:

November 4, 2014 at 10:42 pm

I agree that modern dance can be almost intimidating because it is often difficult to interpret. If I had not completed the readings beforehand, I would have definitely been confused at what message the performance was trying to convey. Reading about the dance first truly did make it a different experience, so I think it is always useful to gain forward knowledge on not just dance but any work of art in general. I am also in complete agreement with you over Croce’s review. It seemed more like a personal attack rather than a well-thought out critique, especially since Croce did not even take the time to view the performance. Croce and Jones come from different backgrounds and have different stories to tell, so why should one artist wave off another’s story simply because it is not one they agree with it. Being in Jones’ place definitely takes guts as it means standing up to so many different facets of society in order to make your voice heard.

nicholasleung says:

November 4, 2014 at 11:27 pm

First off, I love your Doctor Who gif. Second, I agree that modern dance is a really daunting thing to analyze. However, as you said, it draws out something really respectable and powerful. I strongly disagree with Croce’s view of the topic now becoming a non discussion. In fact, it becomes all the more discussable! People need to see that life is more than just sunshines and rainbows and escapism. There is a very dark reality people tend not to face. Bill T. Jones forces people to see what is happening in the world. There is indeed death and disease, and unfortunately we need to cope with its existence. Beyond coping, we need to gain strength and understanding of these dark issues in the world.

layanahnsouli says:

November 4, 2014 at 11:34 pm

I definitely agree that modern dance can take time to get used to. However, once you are able to decipher the message being conveyed by the dance, I find that you are able to gain an appreciation for the performance. In this way, modern dance is much like literature. While you can simply read the story or watch the dance for the surface level entertainment, it is when you analyze the meaning behind it that you gain a true appreciation for the work. In the case of Bill T. Jones, he is conveying the inner turmoil experienced by those who suffer from illness.