Marlowe's Tamburlaine the Great censored not to anger muslims

[Ummon]

http://in.news.yahoo.com/051124/32/617j2.html

Row over censoring Marlowe play

The producers of Tamburlaine the Great have come under fire after censoring Christopher Marlowe's 1580s masterpiece to avoid upsetting Muslims. It was otherwise a hit of the autumn season, selling out for its entire run and inspiring rave reviews.

Its audiences at the Barbican in London did not see the Quran being burnt as Marlowe intended, because David Farr who directed and adapted the play, feared it would inflame passions in the background of the 7/7 bombings.
The Bristol Old Vic's artistic director Simon Reade said that if they had not altered the original, it "would have raised the hackles of a significant proportion of one of the world's great religion".

The burning of the Quran was "smoothed over", he added, so that it became just the destruction of a " load of books". The key reference to Prophet Muhammad has been dropped, particularly in the passage where Tamburlaine says he is "not worthy to be worshipped". The original had more Marlowe comments on the Prophet which would have been considered blasphemous by many.

I remember Ghaddafi stating that Shakespeare was an arab named Sheikh Spir a few years ago too. The world can be such an interesting place.

[Masquerade]

Nothing new. Some producers do not want to cause trouble, others like controversy. Think how many problems the Merchant of Venice can cause.

[Custor]

David Farr - director and adaptor.

"It is complete nonsense to suggest, as the Times did yesterday, that my decision to alter the burning-of-the-books scene in Tamburlaine was based on a desire to appease Islamic opinion. As I made clear, my decision to adapt the text was purely artistic. Journalists and academics often forget that theatre directors are dealing with living texts. We constantly adapt, chop, cut and change to make the work vibrant and rigorous for a modern audience, to present our particular vision in as limpid a way as possible."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0...ticle_continue

Now if you've stopped trying to stir up ++++?

[Cluny the Scourge]

David Farr - director and adaptor.

"It is complete nonsense to suggest, as the Times did yesterday, that my decision to alter the burning-of-the-books scene in Tamburlaine was based on a desire to appease Islamic opinion. As I made clear, my decision to adapt the text was purely artistic. Journalists and academics often forget that theatre directors are dealing with living texts. We constantly adapt, chop, cut and change to make the work vibrant and rigorous for a modern audience, to present our particular vision in as limpid a way as possible."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0...ticle_continue

Now if you've stopped trying to stir up ++++?

Oh, my - now THAT'S convincing. He made 'artistic' decisions to get rid of the bits ridiculing Islam. Ha ha! Yeah, man!

[danzig]

David Farr - director and adaptor.

"It is complete nonsense to suggest, as the Times did yesterday, that my decision to alter the burning-of-the-books scene in Tamburlaine was based on a desire to appease Islamic opinion. As I made clear, my decision to adapt the text was purely artistic. Journalists and academics often forget that theatre directors are dealing with living texts. We constantly adapt, chop, cut and change to make the work vibrant and rigorous for a modern audience, to present our particular vision in as limpid a way as possible."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0...ticle_continue

Now if you've stopped trying to stir up ++++?

What would you expect him to say? Yes I cut the scene because I didnt want to cause any bad feelings and admit he is pandering? Sounds like a canned response/defense to me on his part. His next production can be Romeo and Juliet where instead of suicide so not to offend Christian viewers they decide to sit down and discuss the problem with her father and go to church and pray or maybe Romeo and Julian the two young gay lovers.

And this has never been done to any other artistic form? Merchant of Venice has been altered to not offend Jews. Recently Sikhs rioted about a play that hadn't even been performed because it supposedly was anti-Sikh. And I don't think I've even heard of an anti-Christian play or film (well, except maybe the Da Vinci Code)

The point atleast to me is it shouldnt be done at all regardless who is the subject that maybe offended.

[Tom Paine]

What would you expect him to say? Yes I cut the scene because I didnt want to cause any bad feelings and admit he is pandering? Sounds like a canned response/defense to me on his part. His next production can be Romeo and Juliet where instead of suicide so not to offend Christian viewers they decide to sit down and discuss the problem with her father and go to church and pray or maybe Romeo and Julian the two young gay lovers.

And yet the difference being Tamburlaine is very specifically antimuslim, as with Merchant of Venice, very specifically antisemitic.

The point atleast to me is it shouldnt be done at all regardless who is the subject that maybe offended.

I agree, I just think its a little odd to pick out alone as an isolated incident Muslims getting it; they just follow the precedent set by other religions.

[danzig]

And yet the difference being Tamburlaine is very specifically antimuslim, as with Merchant of Venice, very specifically antisemitic.

I agree, I just think its a little odd to pick out alone as an isolated incident Muslims getting it; they just follow the precedent set by other religions.

Probably because its a recent event, just like here in the US there is some rumblings in Boston over renaming the traditional city christmas tree lighting to 'holiday tree' as not to offend muslims, jews and atheist. Granted for *some* people they only ***** when it hits something they care about and gladly turn a blind eye when it doesnt for me though it bugs me anytime it happens. Even with your Christ talking to Satan example, any attempts to silence such a play would bother me...though Id argue your example would probably only happen as a result of someone specifically *trying* to **** Christians off. Plus there is always the likelyhood the offended group simply misunderstands the intent of the material and see it as an attack on them and their believes when it might not necessarily be so. Of course Im probably in the minority here in that I dont believe in any limits on freedom of speech/expression other then speech that causes a direct threat to lives..ie yelling fire in a mall or bomb on a plane etc.

[Ummon]

David Farr - director and adaptor.

"It is complete nonsense to suggest, as the Times did yesterday, that my decision to alter the burning-of-the-books scene in Tamburlaine was based on a desire to appease Islamic opinion. As I made clear, my decision to adapt the text was purely artistic. Journalists and academics often forget that theatre directors are dealing with living texts. We constantly adapt, chop, cut and change to make the work vibrant and rigorous for a modern audience, to present our particular vision in as limpid a way as possible."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0...ticle_continue

Now if you've stopped trying to stir up ++++?

No of course, it is solely artistic. Marlowe was a bad writer, and always needs lots of adaptations/cuts/censorship, that is widely known.

[Tom Paine]

No of course, it is solely artistic. Marlowe was a bad writer, and always needs lots of adaptations/cuts/censorship, that is widely known.

And a play is never adapted/altered? Ever? Especially not the older ones....

[Tom Paine]

And this has never been done to any other artistic form? Merchant of Venice has been altered to not offend Jews. Recently Sikhs rioted about a play that hadn't even been performed because it supposedly was anti-Sikh. And I don't think I've even heard of an anti-Christian play or film (well, except maybe the Da Vinci Code)

[John I Tzimisces]

And this has never been done to any other artistic form? Merchant of Venice has been altered to not offend Jews. Recently Sikhs rioted about a play that hadn't even been performed because it supposedly was anti-Sikh. And I don't think I've even heard of an anti-Christian play or film (well, except maybe the Da Vinci Code)

Heh. Anything written by shakespeare inspired by T. Macchius Plautus (coughpracticallyeverythingcough) is in a way a finger to the church, keeping in mind they banned plautus's work

[King Henry V]

Oh well, I'll guess they'll have to ban The Jew of Malta. It'll be a bit difficult to edit the entire text.

[Ummon]

Somewhat a strategic adaptation, wasn't it?

[Tom Paine]

Oh yes. But read the above posts about picking out one specific religion's example, when others have had the same done for their satisfaction. At least Muslim's weren't rioting this time, unlike the Sikhs.

[Ummon]

The way the Merchant was amended, for example, was much less akin to panic, in my book. But of course, that's open to debate. :wink:

[Tom Paine]

No answer about the Sikhs then, which obviously was due to panic.

[Ummon]

That is because I have no info on the Sikhs: but no blackmail should be accepted, from anyone. :wink:

[Tom Paine]

But this surely includes the author himself?

[Prince Kassad]

This is just another attempt to be politically correct. We can't have the masses being exposed to ideas and events that the ruling elites don't approve of.

[Tom Paine]

Hah, right. Political correctness is a little different to that. Plus this sort of thing is not an idea; its a statement. Burning the Quran is not an idea but an action discrediting the burner in fact.