kleinj@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (11/16/90)
As a woman up for promo/tenure in a mostly male theatre department, I concur with others about the stress of resolving feminism, humanism, and equality when the guys just don't get it--when you try to play by their rules. A case in point in our situation: Recently, my only other female colleague raised the issue that all three tech courses (scenery, costumes, lights) should be required for the major, because scene shop tends to be male based and costumeshop tends to be female. Our male tech director disagreed by stating that the scene shop was the only "shared experience" of all theatre majors. She and I continued to argue that ALL tech classes were "shared experiences." I then went on to share student reports that women were not getting the same "shared experiences" as men in the scene shop. They were relegated to painting and sweeping the stage, while men ran saws and constructed scenery. Later, this tech director approached me in the stairwell and threatened me by accusing me of slandering him personally. (He's been known to do this before to my female colleague as well.) He intimidates female students (and faculty), while female students don't complain about scene shop strategies and merely take what they're given. Things have got to change! So, the debate is on hold, while we encourage female students to share their scene shop stories with our director--a male who at least appears to listen. Even though I "shouldn't" "cause controversy" during my tenure year, I'm fed up with men who don't understand feminism, discrimination, etc.! So, I speak my voice because I have a feminist colleague with whom I can agree and add our minority vote on dept. issues. Most notably, we're trying to get more roles for women in the productions we choose, but we have a long battle ahead of us when the literature is so dominantly male-based. It helps to have another colleague to fight battles together. For illumination on women's roles in universities, read Hazel Carby's article on the "Politics of Difference" in this month's MS. In the meantime, if anyone has any suggestions for female strategies in academe I'd love to hear more about it! Jeanne Klein Kansas University Theatre
larryc@poe.jpl.nasa.gov (Larry Carroll) (11/23/90)
I applaud your efforts to expand women's participation in tech courses. People like you make me think of Bette Midler's song from "Beaches" that includes the line "Did I ever tell you, you are my hero?" I've just become interested in theatre because I saw a production of John Patrick Shanley's "Three Women of Manhattan" here in L.A. Despite some problems (I think the second of four acts should be cut, for instance) I thought it was terrific & I've gone back to see it several times. Other productions here (that I remember off the top of my head, I'm not trying to be complete) that seem to be both good theatre & express the women's viewpoint well are "A Shaina Maydel" and "The Heidi Chronicles." What are some others that people on this thought especially good (or were popular or highly publicized but have major flaws)? Larry Carroll "Takes-us" (correct pronunciation of Texas) Dancin' Fool