Real Gone
Last week, the Orpheum Theatre ended a 34-year tradition of screening the Civil War epic Gone with the Wind for reasons related to paternalistic race narratives and the glorification of a Southern rebellion to preserve and expand the institution of human chattel slavery.
Hell broke loose on the internet. Here’s the essence of the response boiled down to a few choice Tweets like …
“Asian sportscaster named Robert Lee yanked from broadcast and theaters canceling Gone with the Wind…far more stupidity to come.”
There was a lot more stupidity to come. Like … (warning: grammar mistakes ahead)
“NOW there’s a prob with Gone with the Wind?…I guess To Kill a Mockingbird is next…”
And…
“Why are they taking gone with the wind movie,what about the movie color purple,slavery and rape.?”
Nazi references happened …
“First they came for GONE WITH THE WIND and I said nothing…
And, as is often the case in games of telephone, the story changed with each telling until …
“Hollywood announced they are banning the movie Gone With The Wind. How about banning Hollywood? Hit their money pockets.I ordered it on line.”
Winner
Memphis’ annual theater awards — the Ostranders — are always a fashion parade. This year’s most daring ensemble was worn by triple-threat diva Annie Freres. She was protesting the omission of the Tracy Letts’ drama Killer Joe by adorning herself with fried chicken.
For a better understanding of the metaphor Google “Killer Joe” and chicken. NSFW — or anywhere, really.
