American Apathy, Theatre & Our Biases
Activism fatigue is real and sadly, we think American apathy is just as real. If we think about this past year, we began our journey through a global pandemic in the aftermath of anti-Semitic hate crimes, straight into the Black Lives Matter movement, barrelled into the American elections and somehow found ourselves in the middle of a Capitol takeover. If you feel exhausted just reading the titles, imagine how much of a toll it took on our minds and bodies to process so many events one after the other. The fatigue would have doubled if you did everything in your power to support these instrumental events. You wanted to do the right thing so you donated, you posted, you reposted, commented and much more. But then, these movements stopped trending on Twitter and you were left disappointed.
The bigger problem however, is that most people “Other” the problem and decide that their participation is not needed. Sure, they may talk about these issues within their family and friend circle but they may not have felt the need to consider what actions they could take. They see no reason to inspect their own behaviors, the impact of their lack of participation and the world they are helping to build. This is called apathetic behaviour and this is possibly a bigger threat than all the other issues out there today.
What is American Apathy and Why Should You Care?
The literal meaning of Apathy is the lack of interest, enthusiasm and concern. Whilst apathy can be harmful in any situation, apathy in present day America is considerably more dangerous. We are changing as a nation and participation from all side sis necessary. Even if you don’t agree with your neighbour, the disagreement itself is an opportunity to inspect your self-beliefs, attempt to understand the opinion of others and disagree if you need to. What is worse than disagreeing today, is to “other” the problem. Everything we are living today is shaping our tomorrow so we need to overcome our apathy.
What Happened When Apathy Won in America?
In the mid- to late 1930’s, the American public turned a blind eye to the millions of Jews seeking asylum from German dictator and Holocaust-perpetrator Adolph Hitler. According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum , in 1933, only 8,220 quota immigrants arrived in the United States, a ninety-five percent decrease in immigration compared to the years prior to Hoover’s instruction.
Word about the developing atrocities in Europe leaked to America. Jewish families with loved ones abroad began to put the pieces together. Unsure of why their letters were going unanswered, many Jewish Americans were left with the fear of the unknown. In the exact words of the Holocaust Encyclopaedia, “the vast majority of American people hoped that the United States would remain isolated from foreign conflicts.”
We all know what happened after that. To refresh your memory, here is a picture of a shop in Germany covered in anti-Semitic graffiti.
What Does this Have to Do with Theatre?
Well, theatre has the power to be the mirror of society. We decided to tackle this apathy to action in our production of Rose Coloured Glass. In this production, we tell the story of a Jewish woman and a Christian woman who are neighbors in Chicago in 1938. Both strong-willed matriarchs of the time and both cling to their social perceptions of the other. As separate as their worlds are, their properties are not. A shared alleyway behind their kitchens acts as a physical and emotional boundary between the two. As World War II unfolds in Europe, one of their granddaughters urges her grandmother to reach out to her neighbour whose family may be impacted by the goings-on. Very early in this interaction, they realize that they have more in common than they thought. When their apathy was replaced with action, they saw their shared love on family and faith much more clearly. Rose Colored Glass reminds us of important themes that we can bear in mind today, both during and following the results of the 2020 Presidential election.
How Can You Move from Apathy to Action?
It all begins with clearly identifying your prejudices. We all have prejudices and there is no need to be ashamed of them but it is important to look at them clearly. Examine the first thought that comes to your mind in response to a global event. If that thought involves bias against a certain population, ask yourself if that is necessary, justified and kind. Take the time to reflect how your opinion and consequently words, impact the community in question. Put yourself on the receiving end of that bias and try to imagine what it feels like. If you don’t like this experience, imagine what it feels like to live it. Change your own thoughts through this kind of reflection and be a force for change!
Jessie Fahay for Ripple Effect Artists. Jessie is an actress, playwright and author who is heavily invested in bringing about societal change through the dramatic arts. After years of working in Educational Theatre, as a public speaker, actress, author, graduate student, and her work with Landmark Education and United Global Shift, she has developed an even stronger commitment to making a difference through her love of theatre and appreciation for theatre-education as a vehicle. Thus, Ripple Effect Artists was conceived. With a committed team of Board Members, Actors, Directors, and Theatre Lovers, Jessie has seen her wish of pushing audiences from apathy to action come together and hopes to continue inspiring change in generations to come.
