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Matthew Freeman is a Brooklyn based playwright with a BFA from Emerson College. His plays include THE DEATH OF KING ARTHUR, REASONS FOR MOVING, THE GREAT ESCAPE, THE AMERICANS, THE WHITE SWALLOW, AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR, THE MOST WONDERFUL LOVE, WHEN IS A CLOCK, GLEE CLUB, THAT OLD SOFT SHOE and BRANDYWINE DISTILLERY FIRE. He served as Assistant Producer and Senior Writer for the live webcast from Times Square on New Year's Eve 2010-2012. As a freelance writer, he has contributed to Gamespy, Premiere, Complex Magazine, Maxim Online, and MTV Magazine. His plays have been published by Playscripts, Inc., New York Theatre Experience, and Samuel French.

Wednesday, January 19, 2005

What isn't Political?

Here's a question to ponder: what act isn't political in some way?

I once had a long discussion with a friend of mine, Jordan Atkins, who I lived with in Chicago after college. He is a Vegan, runs a straight-edged hardcore label, and is quite the director himself. Did great work with Genet. Also, strangely enough, Jordan played Championship High School Football in Texas. So honestly, there really isn't a topic I wouldn't feel comfortable taking his view seriously on.

His view, and it's not uncommon, is that everything is political. That the "political" is simply how we act as a society, and every action in a society that is part of against the structure of that society (all actions that I can think of) is political.

Walking a dog can be political to an animal right's activist. Buying a car is political to Critical Mass. Eating a hamburger is political; buying diamonds for a wedding is political; standing on a stage as opposed to appearing on a screen is political... it's all about who is observing the act and what they find important. And, even if we "pick our causes" that doesn't mean that you're not affecting a battle being fought somewhere, unbeknownst to you, with your dollar.

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