The Meaning of Life

"In our own time, one of the most popular, influential branches of the culture industry is unquestionably sport. If you were to
ask what provides some meaning in life nowadays for a great many people, especially men, you could do worse than reply
‘Football’. Not many of them, perhaps, would be willing to admit as much; but sport, and football in particular, stands in for all those noble causes – religious faith, national sovereignty, personal honour, ethnic identity – for which, over the centuries, people have been prepared to go to their deaths. Sport involves tribal loyalties and rivalries, symbolic rituals, fabulous legends, iconic heroes, epic battles, aesthetic beauty, physical fulfilment, intellectual satisfaction, sublime spectaculars, and a profound sense of belonging. It also provides the human solidarity and physical immediacy which television does not. Without these values, a good many lives would no doubt be pretty empty. It is sport, not religion, which is now the opium of the people. Indeed, in the world of Christian and Islamic fundamentalism, religion is less the opium of the people than the crack of the masses."

from 'The Meaning of Life by Terry Eagleton

Now that deserves a slow and considered riposte!
After all Bill Shankly once famously observed,
‘Football’s not about life and death, its more important’!

Titus

Martin Crimp's 'Advice to Iraqui Women!'

.

'The protection of children is a priority.
Even a small child on a bike should wear a helmet. And a newborn baby on a plane must be strapped to its mother.
A child on roller-skates should wear kneepads.
And elbow pads.'

In Crimp's drama each self is somebody else's character. Crimp's plays are driven by encounters between strangers. But when stranges meet, can danger be far away? Crimp is fascinated by characters who suddenly appear from around the corner.The interaction of strangers is inherently interesting because rival definitions of the self come into play - and dramatic conflict thrives on this difference' !! A Guardian interview with the man himself is available HERE.

There is an interesting chat on the Theatre Voice website amongst those who have worked with Crimp's drama. The interview series on the site is know as 'Reputations'

REPUTATIONS: MARTIN CRIMP (1/2) Lindsay Posner, Dan Rebellato, Auriol Smith and Anne Tipton begin their comprehensive survey of Crimp's formidable dramatic output. Aleks Sierz hosts. Recorded live.

Make sure you have your sound turned on!
There is a transcript of the talk available HERE

The Independent has an article in the Arts pages on it's site regarding the revival in 2007 of Crimp's play Attempts On Her Life. Read the article HERE. Also sourced a review of his play The Country and its available HERE.

Crimp's piece from 2003, quoted from above and which gave this post it's title - Advice to Iraqui Women!

'Even in water a child can burn. Even in spring it's still possible. In the time it takes you to cut the grass and trim the edges, a child might have burned, because of the very strong rays. Avoid sunlight, and in strong sunlight, when there are fierce rays, apply cream.'

Read the whole piece HERE
Is this drama!
Your thoughts and ideas welcome

Titus

Image sourced from HERE

Hunger! .... it was striking!

".... disturbing, emotional, moving, most definitely riveting stuff, although certainly not for the faint hearted wanting to enjoy a Saturday night at the cinema. It was also for me, hauntingly familiar. Dark, grey, intimidating surroundings, hostile environment, a surreal experience, for many a defining moment in their young lives, and for some, their final experience of life, synonymous with a intense battle of wills, irresistible force pitted against the immovable object."

SIN, the Students Union here at NUIG sent me to see Hunger, the new film about hunger-striker Bobby Sands to see what I thought of it, and also to see what memories it brought of my own time as a prisoner in Long Kesh.

You can read my full review on the SIN website by clicking on HUNGER

Titus

Image sourced from HERE

'Art imitates life'

Wet morning here in Galway, just heading in to the College. Going to 'Importance of being Earnest' in Nun's Island tomorrow. Friel's 'Homeplace' was great, really enjoyed it. Krapp's Last tape on this week as well, pity all on in the one week, as 2 of them on this semester. Also, either feast or famine, Ibsen's 'Enemy of the People' is on the Black Box, with sub titles in Irish! Apparently first time something like this has been tried.

'Art imitates life' or does life imitate art? Whatever it is, its causing problems, 3 Assignments due in the next 2 weeks, Rome, Native Americans, & 'Norn Irn', and Wilde, Beckett, Friel & Ibsen are just being problematic at the moment!

Titus

image sourced from HERE