Stranger weighs in on a different audacity

[Jennifer (Zhenya) Lavy]

In yesterday's SLOG (Stranger Blog), Brendan Kiley took on the difficulties APL has experienced getting the Oedipus poster distributed. Makes for interesting discussion. Check it out at:

http://www.thestranger.com/blog/2006/05/whats_wrong_with_thi.php

What do you think?

And I'm also curious to know where people actually are seeing the poster.

Oedipus opens Friday and runs through June 17. Check us out on SeattlePerforms.com or www.geocities.com/akropolis_lab.

[Dorothy Lemoult]

Oh my god !

See my response on the stranger's thread.

*goes to bang head on wall *

[Peggy Gannon]

Key-riced.

I suggest stickers to cover up whatever the objectionable part is.  And the stickers can say, "Photo censored by this establishment."  They probably wouldn't go for that, either.  How about, "Photo censored; more info at www.whatever-the-stranger-slog-link-is.com."

[Joseph E Boling]

I think the issue here is that it is NOT a baby (re. the commnts on the Stranger page about breast feeding icons) - it's just too startling for some persons to get their heads around. When I encountered this image somewhere on the TPS site a couple of days ago, my own first reaction was "Hmmm - is he really suckling, or is the nipple jabbing him in the chin? It's hard to tell what the geometry of this breast is...."

As fas as sexy goes, Akropolis had a much sexier poster a couple of years ago (I don't recall what productin it was for). I never figured out how they got that photograph without showing a nipple - it was very intriguing. But it was also much more subtle (dare I say, more "arty"), and thus less likely to attract censure.

As for the prudes - there's little we can do about them. I agree with NOT Bowdlerizing the poster.

[Tom Ansart]

It's on the wall at Cafe Solstice (U District) and doesn't seem to be offending anybody.  But it's badly placed.  I'll center it tomorrow and see if there's any bigger reaction.

[Jennifer (Zhenya) Lavy]

It's a little hard to tell on the small image-size posted here, so I'll explain a little:

There's no nipple showing anywhere.
There's no mouth-to-nipple activity, either.
The male figure's head is cradled in the female figure's arm and strategically blocks the nipple.

And thanks, Joe, for remembering that other poster of ours! You're referencing Song of Songs from 2002. Another one of our favorites! We have that poster on our website at http://www.geocities.com/akropolis_lab/SongofSongs.html

[Karen Zeller Lane]

I saw the poster at Sestos Cafe on Western just below the Pike Market. I get my coffee there several times a week when dropping Marcus off at daycare. I saw it in a fairly prominent position. As the women was taking my money I non-chalantly asked "So, what do you think of that poster?" :-)

She smiled and said "I think (pause), it's a good conversation piece. It certainly fits the show."

She went on to tell me that she did grimace when she saw it and the poster person immediately asked her if she wanted it taken down! She said "No, I don't want to be stupid." :-)

Karen

[Peggy Gannon]

Oooh, I don't like that the poster folks are straight-up offering to take down posters without even a formal complaint.  Perhaps s/he was just gun-shy, but still, that's no good.

I like the poster, and I think it's provocative without being offensive.  It fits the show's themes, it fits Akropolis' sensibility, it's perfect at being exactly what it needs to be.

[Aimee Bruneau]

this poster makes me thirsty.

it also makes me want to see the show.

exquisite marketing, i say!

[Margaret O'Malley]

I've seen the poster at Zoka's in Tangletown.

I too thought it was a fantatsic poster.  Very fitting for the show. Not only is it a great marketing tool because it catches attention and intrigues the viewer, it's a good piece of art.

I too hope to catch this show and wish you a successful run.

[Chad Jennings]

Eh, doesn't do a ton for me.  It seems intentionally inflamatory, but not to a fault.  Doesn't surprise me that some, if not many, business owners wouldn't want to post it.

It does catch attention.  I'll definately give it that.  It does give a visual depection of a central theme in the show and I don't have a problem with it.

Given the image, however, I'm not at all surprised that there is resistance.

[Rik Deskin]

Huh?
Apparently the people offended never read Oedipus. I like the poster and I do not like censorship one bit. Where are we again? Oh, yeah Seattle. The last bastian of free thought on this side of the continent. Where are all of these backwards leaning neo-cons crawling out from? Go back whence thou cam'st!

[Orla Mc Govern]

I agree with Aimee (apart from the thirsty thing, but then again I was bottle-fed...)
It is a beautiful image, and a wonderful design imho, NOT sensationalist at ALL to me, but reflective (duh) of the story.
Hope the controversy fires up some more and you sell out the run!

[Maria Glanz]

good discussion - seems evident this is a powerful marketing / art piece, huh?

My inner Ohio-born 12 year old Catholic girl first went "oh! eww ~" and then my smart grown up self thought "Wow - excellent poster for Oedipus" - maybe like the lady at Karen's coffee place 

I agree wholeheartedly with the comments about Keep Posted (is that who did the posting?) offering to take the posters down without even a complaint - that is bad business & bad etiquette and just kinda wrong.

[Jon Lutyens]

Having caught the 11:00 performance tonight (last night/this morning?), I'd say that I agree with Maria -- initially the poster made me wince.  Just before I thought, "well, it is Oedipus after all." 

Ultimately I'd say that the poster does a fine job of advertising the show they've produced.  If someone is going to be offended by the image, they may not be so thrilled with the show.  There is some nudity and heavy stuff as we've come to expect from the particular story. Horror of horrors that they should represent incest, suicide, and self-mutilation with such a provocative image?  Maybe the offended parties should stick to the tried-and-true classics like.... oh wait...