AS to his immediate1 proposals, I think the Artist has made himself quite clear. But he opened up an interesting vista2 of possibilities when he spoke3 of being Minister of Public Education. He said he couldn’t do certain things because he wasn’t Minister of Public Education. What we would like very much to know is what he would do if he were!—Do you mind telling us?
The Artist. “In the first place I would set fire to—But you are sure I am not taking up your time unduly4?”
No, no! Go on!
The Artist. “I would set fire to the coat-tails of all the present boards of education who are now running our educational system in complete indifference5 to the interests of the child. I would institute democratic control: turn the school system over to the National Guild6 of Young Artists. My career as an educational autocrat7 would necessarily[Pg 133] stop right there, so far as the internal revolutionizing of education is concerned—for what I have been telling you is simply what I think the children themselves would do with the schools if they were allowed to run them.
“But Education, as I understand it, does not stop short with the school—it extends throughout all life. It is what I would call the civilizing8 process. And there is much to be done to many departments of life before they can become part of a real civilizing process. I will describe only one, but not the least fundamental of these changes—the democratizing of the Theatre. Or rather, as I should say, turning it into a school.
“A school of what? you will ask. A school of life, of aspiration9, of progress, of civilization. It can be all these things if it becomes the People’s Theatre. Therefore, as Minister of Public Education, I propose to confiscate10 the Theatres and turn them over to the People.
“But again, when I speak of ‘The Theatre,’ I do not mean merely the buildings in which plays are given. I mean all those arts which are part of communal11 creativity. I propose to unite them all in communal festivals of human progress. I do not propose that we shall begin by holding classes in the Hippodrome—though that will[Pg 134] come. I propose to begin with solemn and magnificent national holiday pageants12 similar to those which were so frequently and gorgeously celebrated13 during the days of the great French Revolution—”
At this moment a policeman approaches the stage.
“I wish to warn the speaker that everything he says is being taken down in shorthand by one of our men, and if he wants to finish his speech the less he says about Revolution the better. That’s all.”
The Artist. “Thank you! I should have said, during the days of a certain great political and social upheaval14 which laid the foundations of modern life in general, and of our gallant15 ally, the French Republic, in particular. The historic festivals of which I speak were in charge of the great artists and composers of the nation, and their art and music were used to express the common emotion and purpose of the People. So it will be with ours. Our artists will unite to express the new ideals of mankind, and together with each other and with the People, will lay the foundations of a new and democratic art.
“It is here that the theatres, which will already be in charge of the guilds16 of artists, will[Pg 135] come into play. For the new art must have a solid basis in popular emotions such as only the theatre can give. They will therefore present plays which criticize the old slave-system, satirize17 its manners, its traditional heroes, its ideals; plays which invest with tragic18 dignity the age-long struggle of the People against oppressive institutions and customs; plays which creatively foreshadow a new popular culture and morality; and plays which celebrate the final victory of the People in their revolutionary strug—”
Another policeman:
“Are ye making an address on education, or trying to incite19 to riot? L’ave that word Revolution alone.—This is the second time we’re warning ye.”
The Artist. “I’m sorry. I had hoped to show the influence of the national aspirations20 of a great Celtic people upon their artistic21 life, and the final flowering of their dreams in a certain political and social upheaval—”
The Policeman. “Oh, ye mean the Irish Revolution? That’s different! Ye’re all right. Go on!”
The Artist. “My time, however, is short. I shall leave to your imagination the means to be used in furthering these aims by the democratization[Pg 136] of technical artistic culture. I shall speak only of its spiritual aspects. The Theatre, as I have said, will take the lead in preparing for the new day by presenting plays which will teach the People courage and confidence in their destiny, teach them to scorn the ideals of the traditional past, deepen their sense of community with the People in all lands in their world-wide struggle for freedom, and make them face the future with a clear and unshakable resolution, an indomitable will to victory.
“If I had time, I should like to tell you how this educational program is already being carried out, in spite of the greatest difficulties, by a certain Slavic nation—”
Another interruption!—by a red-faced, dictatorial22, imperatorial personage who has been sitting there all this time, swelling23 with rage and awaiting his opportunity. He speaks:
“Officer! I am a member of the Board of Education, and I demand that you arrest that man as a Bolshevik agitator24!”
(Tumultuous scenes.)
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1
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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2
vista
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| n.远景，深景，展望，回想 | |
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3
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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4
unduly
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| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
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5
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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6
guild
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| n.行会，同业公会，协会 | |
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7
autocrat
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| n.独裁者；专横的人 | |
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8
civilizing
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| v.使文明，使开化( civilize的现在分词 ) | |
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aspiration
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| n.志向，志趣抱负；渴望；(语)送气音；吸出 | |
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10
confiscate
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| v.没收(私人财产)，把…充公 | |
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11
communal
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| adj.公有的，公共的，公社的，公社制的 | |
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12
pageants
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| n.盛装的游行( pageant的名词复数 )；穿古代服装的游行；再现历史场景的娱乐活动；盛会 | |
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13
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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14
upheaval
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| n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱 | |
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15
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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16
guilds
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| 行会，同业公会，协会( guild的名词复数 ) | |
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17
satirize
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| v.讽刺 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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19
incite
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| v.引起，激动，煽动 | |
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20
aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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21
artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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dictatorial
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| adj. 独裁的，专断的 | |
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23
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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agitator
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| n.鼓动者；搅拌器 | |
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