A few weeks ago I posted about a play performed as part of a Glasgow homosexual arts festival called "Jesus, Queen of Heaven" by transsexual writer Jo Clifford (right).I felt that my post was fairly even handed but I pointed out that the writer clearly understood the theological implications and possible offence of referring to Jesus as "Queen of heaven".
Some weeks have passed and I thought that, like most posts, it would simply be forgotten.
So I was astonished when I returned home today to find that not only had there been a another comment on the post but it came from the playwright herself.
Part of Jo's comment says "I've been meaning to respond to your post about my play for a long time, and really just to thank you for it too. The crucial thing to tell you is that i did not intend to cause offense either with the title or the publicity image either." She says more, and readers are welcome to see the comment in full and make their own judgments and comments, which are, on all posts over a fortnight old, subject to my moderation.
Jo runs her own blog - a diary - which details aspects of her life and some of the background to the play. I've had a sample look at some of the things she has written over the years and much of it is pretty mundane, covering some of the same topics dealt with on here and other political/faith blogs.
An interesting read, especially where she struggles with issues of gender identity, something that I spent an entire term studying as part of my sociology degree in the 1960s. Much as we think society has changed Jo faced many of the same challenges that were reported in the academic work that I saw during the middle of the last century, though I don't think any academic would dare now refer to "spoilt sexual identity".
After reading some of her posts I think I accept that whilst Jo's title and subject matter would cause offence, I accept her claim that she did not intend to cause offence.
This leaves me pondering whether I would actually go and see this play. I suspect not, but I'd be interested to read the script. I know this is all a bit off my beaten track for this blog but I'm delighted that Jo Clifford thought it worthwhile to post a comment.
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5 comments:
Not wishing to be pedantic but you have not got the word for a writer of plays correct. The word should be playwright.
You are, of course, wright!
I really don't see the point in assuming that people mean offense until a personal contact with the person proves that they don't. Anyone who has had any contact at all with the gay community would understand the "send up".
And the Christian community has hardly been kind to gay community and we continue to be harmfully indifferent as well as aggressively negative. So we can hardly claim the moral high ground on this issue.
I've put it rite FP. Been a bit busy. Thanks!
Thanks Pam. Over the last few days I've been in email contact with Jo and discovered that we actually had a personal link going back some 30 years.
Jo sent me the script of the play which I have now read. Some parts I have re-read.
I also went onto youtube and saw a previous play by Jo called "God's New Frock" (it is in four parts so takes a bit of fiddling around).
I'm going to post a further item about both plays after I have given the matter more thought, possibly in the New Year.
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