The Briefing Room

General Category => Editorial/Opinion/Blogs => Topic started by: ABX on June 17, 2017, 11:50:27 pm

Title: The Misplaced Outrage Over a Trumpian Julius Caesar
Post by: ABX on June 17, 2017, 11:50:27 pm
This may rustle some jimmies and cause some discussion. Basically, this play has put contemporary political leaders on the block every chance it can when it is put on, and when it was Hillary or Obama being portrayed, Conservatives praised it. But even that misses the bigger point....

Quote
In 2015, a production of Julius Caesar at Trinity Repertory Company in Providence gave a spin to the Shakespearian history play by reimagining the title character as a woman. The show was largely interpreted by critics to be referencing Hillary Clinton, especially considering that when its “Caesar” was murdered at the beginning of Act Three she was wearing a striking white pantsuit......

....A 2012 production by The Acting Company cast Bjorn DuPaty as Caesar, an actor whose resemblance to President Obama was noted by many critics. Noah Millman of The American Conservative praised the show’s timely inferences.....

....Many commentators have argued that, rather than advocate for the assassination of a controversial political figure, Julius Caesar does the opposite, warning of the chaos that comes from such action. But the subtlety of such a point is considerably easier to miss than the symbolism of a blond-coiffed businessman in a red tie being graphically executed onstage........

https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/06/the-misplaced-outrage-over-a-trumpian-julius-caesar/530037/



Title: Re: The Misplaced Outrage Over a Trumpian Julius Caesar
Post by: The_Reader_David on June 18, 2017, 02:15:54 am
Indeed.

Back during the election, I took the view I would not give the assent of my vote to either of the wannbe Caesars.  I think you can find my having written exactly that on this board in explanation of my support for Gary Johnson.  I have also in numerous conversations warned anyone who opines about the desirability of Trump being assassinated that if you assassinate Caesar, you get Augustus.
Title: Re: The Misplaced Outrage Over a Trumpian Julius Caesar
Post by: goodwithagun on June 18, 2017, 02:29:09 am
This may rustle some jimmies and cause some discussion. Basically, this play has put contemporary political leaders on the block every chance it can when it is put on, and when it was Hillary or Obama being portrayed, Conservatives praised it. But even that misses the bigger point....

Basically the outrage supports my hypothesis that some who consider themselves conservatives (including my own dear parents) voted for Trump because he would do what obama did only with issues that they support.
Title: Re: The Misplaced Outrage Over a Trumpian Julius Caesar
Post by: Cripplecreek on June 18, 2017, 02:41:25 am
This may rustle some jimmies and cause some discussion. Basically, this play has put contemporary political leaders on the block every chance it can when it is put on, and when it was Hillary or Obama being portrayed, Conservatives praised it. But even that misses the bigger point....

The simple fact is that the play has been modernized and re-envisioned untold numbers of times over the years. When I was in high school in the early 80s I saw an Africanized version of the play with Ceasar portrayed as an African tribal chieftain. I have even heard of a version  based on Edgar Rice Burroughs Mars series where Ceasar was a Jeddak.

The only thing new here is the outrage.