“A disgusting New York City play depicting the president brutally assassinated,” begins a Fox News segment apparently seeking to stoke the outrage out its conservative audience. Even Donald Trump’s son appears upset.
I wonder how much of this "art" is funded by taxpayers? Serious question, when does "art" become political speech & does that change things? https://t.co/JfOmLLBJCn
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) June 11, 2017
The play? The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, which William Shakespeare is believed to have written around 1599.
Julius Caesar, which many people read in high school, focuses on the agony of Brutus, a close friend of Caesar’s who ultimately conspires in Caesar’s murder. This particular version appears to be a somewhat anachronistic interpretation of the play, where the characters are dressed in modern clothes.
According to Fox’s write-up of its own segment, the actor playing Caesar “looks very similar to the tall, blond businessman elected president in 2016.” Also, the actress playing his wife has a “Slavic accent.”
It’s an edgy interpretation of Shakespeare’s 400 year-old play, but hardly an extraordinary one. Modern updates of Shakespearean dramas, where centuries-old characters are placed in a contemporary setting, are fairly common — as anyone who enjoyed popular film in the 1990s can probably tell you.
Also, the play doesn’t exactly portray Caesar’s assassins as untainted heroes — or Caesar’s death as a positive event.
In any event, Fox typically takes a far different view on calls to censor political speech and art — at least when that speech has a conservative slant.
Some recent Fox News headlines include “‘Why Not Ban Pens & Keyboards?’: Tucker Battles Student Over Whiteboard Ban” and “Tucker Takes on Student Who Called for NYU to Shut Down College Republicans,” as well as a (legally dubious) piece touting Fox personality Eric Bolling’s claim that “free speech is protected no matter how inciting it may be.”
UPDATE (7:11 P.M.): Delta has pulled its sponsorship of Shakespeare In The Park.
Jessie, no matter what your political stance may be, the graphic staging of Julius Caesar at this summer's Free… 1/4
— Delta (@Delta) June 11, 2017
…Shakespeare in the Park does not reflect Delta Air Lines’ values. Their artistic and creative direction crossed… 2/4
— Delta (@Delta) June 11, 2017
…the line on the standards of good taste. We have notified them of our decision to end our sponsorship as the… 3/4
— Delta (@Delta) June 11, 2017
…official airline of The Public Theater effective immediately. *AOS 4/4
— Delta (@Delta) June 11, 2017