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Christology and The Semiotics of Theater
Isn't that a wonderfully pretentious title??
My dear friend![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
queenofhalves posted this entry about attending a performance of Jesus Christ Superstar in which a woman had been cast as Jesus. I started to respond in comments, but soon realized it merited an entry of my own.
One of my big unfulfilled ambitions is to direct Godspell, and cast Jesus as a woman, and play with the gender dynamic, especially with John/Judas, the woman caught in adultery, and the woman who sings "Turn Back O Man." It wouldn't be a male Jesus played by a woman (as women sometimes play Hamlet, or other male roles), it would be Jesus as as female, with feminine costuming and a feminine sensibility. Which I think Godspell can handle better as a text/show than Superstar.
Why? Most importantly, I believe that the Divine is without gender, and that The Good News, the message of the life and words, and death and resurrection, of the Christ remains the same, irregardless of the gender of the avatar. In a world where women are denied full participation in many churches because they are not male (something I think violates the example of Christ), this is a real, crucial issue. And I have a big issue with the Catholic Church denying ordination to women in part because they can not project "the image of Christ" when they preside at the Eucharist. How does one project the "image" of Christ? Is it about gonads, or about living in the presence of God and radiating God's love?
Second, I believe that while Godspell is a very good piece of theater, tweaking the gender dynamics can revitalize a text that has become so familiar it is verging on cliched.
After all the uproar over Gibson's The Passion I hesitate to write this, but it's also true that I think that showing a woman being crucified will up the emotional impact. Godspell isn't about blood and guts, so I'm not talking about adding gore. The crucifixion scene in any show is a set-piece, very familiar, a ritual. Executing an innocent woman rather than an innocent man hits different centers of meaning for most of us, whether we want to make those distinctions or not.
I'd also like to move away from the traditional portrayal of the disciples as all younger people, and have more of a range of ages. I'd like to have a gay couple among them. I'd like to have a moderated discussion after at least a couple of the performances, so the audience and the cast and I can talk to each other about what difference, if any, the changes make.
When I originally conceived this idea, I wanted to have my very talented sister,raptures_shadow play Jesus, but I don't think that's going to happen now that she is living on the other side of the country. But she would have been great.
My parents attend a Baptist church that uses gender-inclusive language, and is "welcoming and affirming," which means that they believe being homosexual should not bar anyone from full participation in the church. They have an active theater group, and a rich musical program. One day, perhaps when The Child is a bit older, I'll go to them with a proposal. . .
My own church would be willing to do it, but it's so small it lacks the resources.
I'm suddenly finding that I'm hesitant to push the "Update Journal" button. I feel pretty sure that some of my LJ Friends may strongly disagree with some of what I've written here, and I deal far better with controversy in the abstract than when it means possibly offending or distressing people I care about.
My dear friend
queenofhalves posted this entry about attending a performance of Jesus Christ Superstar in which a woman had been cast as Jesus. I started to respond in comments, but soon realized it merited an entry of my own.One of my big unfulfilled ambitions is to direct Godspell, and cast Jesus as a woman, and play with the gender dynamic, especially with John/Judas, the woman caught in adultery, and the woman who sings "Turn Back O Man." It wouldn't be a male Jesus played by a woman (as women sometimes play Hamlet, or other male roles), it would be Jesus as as female, with feminine costuming and a feminine sensibility. Which I think Godspell can handle better as a text/show than Superstar.
Why? Most importantly, I believe that the Divine is without gender, and that The Good News, the message of the life and words, and death and resurrection, of the Christ remains the same, irregardless of the gender of the avatar. In a world where women are denied full participation in many churches because they are not male (something I think violates the example of Christ), this is a real, crucial issue. And I have a big issue with the Catholic Church denying ordination to women in part because they can not project "the image of Christ" when they preside at the Eucharist. How does one project the "image" of Christ? Is it about gonads, or about living in the presence of God and radiating God's love?
Second, I believe that while Godspell is a very good piece of theater, tweaking the gender dynamics can revitalize a text that has become so familiar it is verging on cliched.
After all the uproar over Gibson's The Passion I hesitate to write this, but it's also true that I think that showing a woman being crucified will up the emotional impact. Godspell isn't about blood and guts, so I'm not talking about adding gore. The crucifixion scene in any show is a set-piece, very familiar, a ritual. Executing an innocent woman rather than an innocent man hits different centers of meaning for most of us, whether we want to make those distinctions or not.
I'd also like to move away from the traditional portrayal of the disciples as all younger people, and have more of a range of ages. I'd like to have a gay couple among them. I'd like to have a moderated discussion after at least a couple of the performances, so the audience and the cast and I can talk to each other about what difference, if any, the changes make.
When I originally conceived this idea, I wanted to have my very talented sister,
raptures_shadow play Jesus, but I don't think that's going to happen now that she is living on the other side of the country. But she would have been great. My parents attend a Baptist church that uses gender-inclusive language, and is "welcoming and affirming," which means that they believe being homosexual should not bar anyone from full participation in the church. They have an active theater group, and a rich musical program. One day, perhaps when The Child is a bit older, I'll go to them with a proposal. . .
My own church would be willing to do it, but it's so small it lacks the resources.
I'm suddenly finding that I'm hesitant to push the "Update Journal" button. I feel pretty sure that some of my LJ Friends may strongly disagree with some of what I've written here, and I deal far better with controversy in the abstract than when it means possibly offending or distressing people I care about.
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I tend to believe that the Divine has no gender, as well, though I refer to God as 'he' because it sounds better than referring to God as 'it.' God is love, after all, and I never heard that love had gender (except in French). *grin*
Chantal
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Female Jesus
I agree that God has no gender. God is a spirit. John 4:24 For the record, I don't think Jesus is God. I think he's God's son.
That being said, I think where a person stands on the gender issue among humans depends a lot on how much they rely on the Bible as being inspired by God and directive in their life choices. Among believers, it seems to run the gamut from direct inspiration of the Almighty God to the general impressions of how some ancient people have experienced the divine.
It's been pretty clear since I first started reading your journal that we stand on different spots on that continuum. :) Interesting thoughts even though I don't agree with them.
Re: Female Jesus
Re: Female Jesus
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http://www.edwinasandys.com/sculpture/scultureChrista.html
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Wonderful idea and some thoughts
Just being able to ask the question of what "projects the image of Christ"? Facinates me, I believe that a piece on the subject would hopefully help people asess where they get the perceptions that they maintain. I do not argue with the Scriptures words, but in the modern time, the values derived from the scripture should be questioned.
I think this project would put people more in touch with thier connection and perceptions of Jesus. Protraying Jesus as the daughter of God as opposed to the Son calls into question serious issues we have with gender roles today. Because what father (God) would sacrifice his daughter? The very idea of it would ring evil in most peoples minds. Yet sons (and now more often daughters) are sacrificed readily in our culture on the altar of war.
One of the ideas that this brings to mind is the pervasive question, "What would Jesus do?" What do they think Jesus would do if he saw himself protrayed on screen and stage as a woman?
Re: Wonderful idea and some thoughts
Re: Wonderful idea and some thoughts
Re: Wonderful idea and some thoughts
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One of the reasons I got out of Christianity (there were many) was because of the way it privileged masculinity. I think Godspell's Jesus as clown would transgender very easily. You must do it.
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