Denmark-based theatre company Global Stories has been ousted from this year's Malmö Festival for a project that some consider to be racist. Titled "Through Different Eyes," the project involves transforming men, women, and children into other races and genders with make-up and wigs, with the intention of providing a "greater understanding of discrimination, inclusion and diversity." Around 200 people signed a petition against the "racist" project for its use of blackface, and it was officially removed from the festival this past weekend.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Given the complicated history of the performance, any art that uses blackface these days is bound to face criticism, regardless of its intended message. Danish historian Mikael Javling said that the removal of "Through Different Eyes" by the festival is a result of the "severe pressure due to immigration and current issues" in Sweden and argued that those who signed the petition simply missed the point. "This is a very complex debate and I hope we don't lose the complexity when discussing Swedes' and Danes' differences," he said. "I can understand how minorities in Malmö might have seen this as a blackface project, but it is everything else but that. It is very hard to be accused of doing something that is the exact opposite of its intention."
The Local also reports that the project was presented at last year's Malmö Festival "without incident" and that it may have been a "serious mistake" on the festival's behalf that led to the controversy; the only image used to publicize the project was of a white man whose skin was made darker.
Is this art project racist or is it, as the creators intended, combating discrimination by bringing issues of race and identity to light? Let us know what you think in the comments.
[via Artnet]
