No, I didn't finally run willy-nilly through the streets, branding people's foreheads with Fight stupidization. while yelling about the gentrification of the Heights. That is kind of expected. The reason I was on the news tonight - in an "investigative" piece no less - is because someone thinks that my playwriting ain't art and, in fact, should not be supported by taxpayer dollars (specifically last year's grant from the Houston Arts Alliance, which, may I add, gets their support from hotel occupancy taxes).
From the sleazy way that Dwayne Dolcefino talked about me, you'd think I was writing hard-core porn. Of course, he's basing his opinion on ONE line from my last show. Why only one line? Because I only mentioned one line - the most bawdy of the evening - in my final report to HAA. Yes, that's right. He didn't have a hidden camera set up at DiverseWorks to catch all us subversive artists in the act. He decided to put my likeness (from my website) (two pictures, by the way), my name and even my motto on the nightly news because of ONE FREAKING LINE.
Don't get me wrong. It's a great line. I'll share with you exactly what he read in my report:
This monologue features a character from a town about fifty miles outside of a large, southern city. The man grew up with a homophobic father who constantly told him to “watch out for the queers.” Though the character cannot admit it to himself, he is gay. His opening line (I’m not a queer, but I want someone to fuck me in the ass pretty much as soon as possible.) was intended to surprise the audience and set the tone for the rest of the show. It did so, very effectively. The monologue was not written to shock or be titillating. Instead, it showed us a very conflicted man who grew up bashing gay men but who now desperately wants to be loved by a man. He cannot admit this to himself, so he creates an entire “queer conspiracy” to explain away his actions.
There you have it. I'm sure Dwayne read the full paragraph, so I can only guess that he willfully ignored what I said after the line that got him so excited. Because if he digested the rest of the paragraph, he might have understood that I used a device - similar, in fact, to the over-the-top drama he utilizes in his reports - to grab the audience's attention. Many people suffer from the misapprehension that female playwrights are only going to talk about women's issues (periods, breast cancer, rape, bad hair days), so I purposely grabbed the audience by the figurative balls (see, there I go again) to let them know that this wasn't going to be a weepy chick play. Then I got on with the show.
As for the condescending way in which the news program treated "art," some people get it and some people don't. I at least hope that a few of the people in the news room got a kick out of my dirty little line. The audiences sure loved it.
Can you imagine if I'd said yes to Dwayne's request for an interview? I'll bet he would have made me read the line to him. Over and over and over.
[I'm not linking to the story - if you want to see your pal Crystal on the "news," go to ktrk's website and head to the "undercover" page. I'm going to go wash my hands now.]
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7 comments:
Wow, the Delcifino guy is still around. I hope that you can get us some video or the report? This is awesome for you. All publicity is good publicity.
I'm working on putting together a reading before the end of the year - might get some new audience members out of it. I feel badly (not really) for the people who are visiting my playwriting website right now thinking they're going to find something titillating. They must be bored out of their minds. If only I represented the "fringes" of the art world. I wish I were that edgy.
Chin up...Wayne is making an ass of himself. Keep up the good work! :)
Keep fighting the good fight. It makes me so angry I could spit but that's the other side to the freedom of expression. I just wonder if he knows that it makes the artists push back even harder. He is fueling our fire. Bring it on Wayne! You ain't seen nothin yet.
I saw the report on the Channel 13 website. What an ass that guy is.
I still think that this is good publicity for you. Now everyone in the art community knows your name. It may seem to be a dubious distinction right now but at least they know who you are damnit. The current CEO of the publishing company I work for right now has the same philosophy of all publicity is good publicity and he's been very sucessful. Knuckle Up.
The responses I've received from people in the arts community have been unilaterally positive. Though I was initially unsure about how I felt about the situation, being portrayed as a sexual predator or pornographer or something on the nightly news, I've come around to appreciate the opportunity that has been presented me. And I think most reasonable people see the reports for what they are. I'm not, nor have I ever been, worried about what unreasonable people think.
Hi. Crystal. Liz here from HAA, just wanted to stop by and say I think your a great writer and artist. I felt so bad that he targeted the artists and arts groups that he did. Not that I wanted him to target any in the arts. But, I loved the piece you did for our Literary Salon and Im sorry I didn't get to go last Dec to see the DiverseWorks show.
Take care and stay in touch.
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