Why you should see the Vagina Monologues

Arts & Sciences Arts & Entertainment
1

The Vagina Monologues is only a week away! Go get tickets now as it will be sold out very quickly! I recommend that everyone go see it whether or not you condone it. If you do not agree with this play, you should at least go and see for yourself why you don’t agree with it. Is it just the title that bothers you? Is it the snippets of summary that you got from adverts, the news or critiques? How much does all of that really tell you and how much can you base a judgment on someone else’s review? Lastly, even if you think the play borders on pornographic, is Western feminist hoopla, or whatever…I can still guarantee that the money you spend on your ticket goes directly to organizations here in Taiwan like Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation, which helps victims of domestic violence, child abuse, rape and human trafficking. Even if you come out of the play with the same criticisms on the play and the playwright, can you honestly say that you are against helping victims of domestic and sexual violence? At least your money would have gone to that cause.

I saw the Vagina Monologues back in college and it thrilled me to no end. It is definitely controversial because it shocks you and makes you think about things that you haven’t considered before. It shows different women’s struggles with their perceptions of sex and misunderstandings of sex, and even their own bodies. It is a successful play because it begins these dialogues. It brings women and sexuality into the light of the public. It questions our shame and discomfort with the word Vagina. Why does that sound like something that is inappropriate? WHY? It’s a body part, just like the finger, your toes, your spine… Is it just because vaginas are associated with sex? Fingers and toes, sometimes armpits can also be used in sex, yet we do not blush at the word.

The Vagina Monologues is not just for women. It is absolutely vital that men come to this show, for balanced progress between the sexes. Men should more activly try to understand the these things that they consider “women’s issues” JUST AS women must understand the social demands that are placed on men and masculinity.

For more information, please visit vday.org.tw or e-mail

Chinese Performance: Friday, March 10,
7 p.m.
English Performance: Saturday, March 11, 7 p.m.

Minimum donation $500, Student $400, VIP $1000
Both performances $800, Student $700, VIP $1600
(VIP includes two raffles tickets, free admission to after-party at
LUXY, and priority seating at event)

Ticket Reservations (Call them to buy tickets)
Taiwan Women’s Link 02-2322-5038
Women’s Rescue Foundation of Taipei 02-2356-9595
ECPAT 02-6610-6616

Tickets also available at
02-2362-5494
Witch House No. 7, Lane 56, Sec. 3, Xinsheng S. Rd.

B1 02-8935-1454
White Wabbit Records B1, No. 200, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd.

02-8770-5505
Amor and Pan No. 21, Lane 131, Sec. 4, Minsheng E. Rd

Venue: Guo-Guang Hall, Chinese Petroleum Corporation (CPC)
No. 3 Song Ren Rd.
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2

zoubetty you rock!.

A friend of mine a few years ago lent me the book “The Vagina Monologues” and it changed the way I think about womens sexuality, self-perception, societal conservatism, compassionate living and myself.

And I am a hockey loving male.

How has it been received in Chinese?

This is a play that women should see and that men MUST see IMHO.

Good luck with it. I hope I can make it to Taipei to see it.

3

Thanks for the support, Lo Bo To! Glad to hear that you are trying to make it to the show rather than the usual “What about the Penis Monologues?” What most people who say that don’t realize is that there is serious discusion regarding Masculinity Studies in the academic world. If they wanted to do a Penis Monologues, they could very well do so. They just shouldn’t say it out of defense or to ridicule. It’s very sad when people try to ridicule a serious struggle.

As for how it’s recieved in the Chinese population, I get the feeling that it’s recieving the same amount of welcome, curiosity and criticism as in the Western world (in Taiwan anyways). Most of my Taiwanese coworkers are curious and want to go see it. I only saw a bit of criticism on the news, mostly out of ignorance. Some people wondered if there should be an age limit. Others who saw the poster at first glance thought it might be something pornographic… So I think people aren’t any less receptive of the play here than in the US or the UK.

4

You know that the Gen Da English department staged this show 4 years ago, don’t you? Come on people, theatre is so limited in this town, why not do something we haven’t seen before?

There is one company in town that will be hosting 2 major theatrical endeavours later this year. One is West Side Story and the other is Romeo and Juliet. Sheeesh. I am reminded of our local “Regional” Theatre from my University days. They included a Tennessee Williams production in every season.

Theatre, it’s about risk. Try risking yourselves by doing something new.

Just kidding, I am just being a sarcastic twit. I truly wish you ladies the very brokenest of legs. I am considering attending a performance of The Castrati…erm, Vagina Monologues and actually writing a review on this very board. I really hope to be challenged, and that your show will broaden my perception of the human condition. God knows Rent didn’t.

5

[quote=“Old Gobbo”]You know that the Gen Da English department staged this show 4 years ago, don’t you? Come on people, theatre is so limited in this town, why not do something we haven’t seen before?

There is one company in town that will be hosting 2 major theatrical endeavours later this year. One is West Side Story and the other is Romeo and Juliet. Sheeesh. I am reminded of our local “Regional” Theatre from my University days. They included a Tennessee Williams production in every season.

Theatre, it’s about risk. Try risking yourselves by doing something new.

Just kidding, I am just being a sarcastic twit. I truly wish you ladies the very brokenest of legs. I am considering attending a performance of The Castrati…erm, Vagina Monologues and actually writing a review on this very board. I really hope to be challenged, and that your show will broaden my perception of the human condition. God knows Rent didn’t.[/quote]

Who is putting on these productions and where? I’d like to see R & J, but will pass on WSS as it is the same story of R & J but with music added. Thanks OG

6

[quote=“tot”][quote=“Old Gobbo”]You know that the Gen Da English department staged this show 4 years ago, don’t you? Come on people, theatre is so limited in this town, why not do something we haven’t seen before?

There is one company in town that will be hosting 2 major theatrical endeavours later this year. One is West Side Story and the other is Romeo and Juliet. Sheeesh. I am reminded of our local “Regional” Theatre from my University days. They included a Tennessee Williams production in every season.

Theatre, it’s about risk. Try risking yourselves by doing something new.

Just kidding, I am just being a sarcastic twit. I truly wish you ladies the very brokenest of legs. I am considering attending a performance of The Castrati…erm, Vagina Monologues and actually writing a review on this very board. I really hope to be challenged, and that your show will broaden my perception of the human condition. God knows Rent didn’t.[/quote]

Who is putting on these productions and where? I’d like to see R & J, but will pass on WSS as it is the same story of R & J but with music added. Thanks OG[/quote]

I’ll let you know later. One thing you should know now tho’ is that R&J will be performed in French. :loco:

7

But you ask anyone on the street and they know about Romeo and Juliet. But if you as anyone on the street, most likely, they won’t know about Vagina Monologues. Besides, it’s an annual event, so even though it’s been performed before, people will still go, over and over again :slight_smile:

8

I saw the play tonight and while I think that it was well performed, I was very dissapointed in the play’s content. For the record I am a strong Western woman who is very confident with her sexuality. I’m also extremly concerned with violence against women issues in the world.

I had high expectations for the play, but unfortunately it wasn’t shocking or enlightening at all. I found it to be quite boring and preachy. It seemed very out of date actually. Most of the “monologues” sounded like the same things that I heard in my Women’s studies 101 course back in 1994. Lesbianism, menstruation, dominatrixs, rape, clitoris, orgasms, the word c*nt. Are these ideas really so shocking to people in 2006? I’m really tired of feminism being reduced to sexuality and victimization.

Also, while I feel a great deal of sympathy for the comfort women who suffered at the hands of the Japanese army in WWII, Prime Minister Koizumi offered a letter of apology and monetary compensation to the victims back in 2001, which was rejected by the majority of them. Japan lost the war. They were decimated by the atomic bomb and were forced to build up an entirely new government. Japan and Korea (where the majority of comfort women were from) signed a treaty in 1965 agreeing that all WWII claims have been settled finally and completely. It’s good to bring international attention to wartime violence against women, but aren’t there more current pressing issues to focus on?

How about the fact that women are trafficked and sold into prostitution right here in Taiwan, TODAY? Why is that not mentioned in the play? I want to know what can be done about that important issue! Everyone knows that Japan did evil things during WWII. Japan has conveniently been the scapegoat of Asia for more than half a century. Is it really necessary to continue to focus on WWII, when so many other atrocities are being commited against women in Asia this very second? In fact, the only mention about Taiwanese women in the play was the “xiao jie” moan, which made fun of Taiwanese women’s sexuality.

I left the play feeling disappointed and angry. It’s good that so many woman gathered to bring light to very important issues, but it’s unfortunate that the issues that the Vagina Monologues focus on are tired and cliched. What a shame!

9

I found it irreverent but affirming. I couldn’t help tearing up at the descriptions of rape–it reminded me just how blessed I am.

EDIT: I forgot to add–I loved it! and think it was very well done. I’m proud to say one of my friends played a part and did a fantastic job, imo. Curious to know if any of our Forumosans were involved.

10

First of all, I think the girls that did the English version did a FANTASTIC job!!! They not only did a fabulous job of making the audience laugh, but delivered the very difficult Comfort Woman piece very successfully!!!

Erhu said:

I suppose for most of us English speaking audience members, it is starting to sound a little irrelevant–like a sex and the city episode. But I think it’s important to remember that not everyone’s had such a liberal education as those of us who had been in Women’s studies 101. It’s still quite new and shocking to many other people.

I had two Taiwanese coworkers go to the show. One absolutely loved it! She was thrilled. The other one left before intermission. She said while watching it, the words and descriptions gave her goose bumps and she was so shocked that she almost felt like she was watching pornography. At lunch we talked about it some more, and she is actually a very open and progressive person willing to talk about these things with those of us close to her. She was just shocked to see and hear it spoken so loudly on stage. She thought it might have worked better if the monologues could have eased her into it. I bring this up to show that the level of shock, and how much it enlightens is still quite different for different people.

The letter of apologies and the repeated apologies made by the prime minister and other foreign ministers have been rejected because they are seen as a) ambiguous, b) insincere, and c) personal. Here is a link to the letter of apology.
mofa.go.jp/policy/women/fund/pmletter.html
The apology has to go before the Japanese legislature, and be endorsed by the emperor before it is seen as a national apology. (un.or.th/ohchr/SR/News/2005/ … etin/5/a26)
Also, funding for the monetary compensation set up by the Asian Women’s Fund is mostly done through private donations by the Japanese people. Comfort women survivors have said that they reject this because actions were not perpetrated by the Japanese people, but by the government. Also, I think it is important to consider how compensation is given, result of court rulings, and how long it takes for the court rulings.

I think, Erhu you bring up very important points that there are atrocities comitted right now in Taiwan, that was not mentioned in the play. Perhaps this is areas where the play (written in the United States in the 90’s) failed to bring in a local perspective. Although the Chinese version plugged in some Taiwanese, local slangs, was well translated, and the stage setting, actions, style all had a very local flavor, the stories themselves are true stories about women in the United States. Perhaps what they could have done was added in some true stories from women here in Taiwan. As for the xiao jie moan in the English version, I thought was a beautifully added touch. Stereotyping? Making fun? maybe, but keep in mind that the moaner scene also stereotyped and made fun of Jewish moan, African American moan, the uninhibited bicurious moan—so take that with a grain of salt.

11

To answer your question you should see the VM bc it is funny, irreverent (as an earlier poster mentioned); it will make you cry, and perhaps teach ya something new, reaffirm, or challenge an existing idea you had about vaginas, women, life, our bodies. Plus the proceeds go to local nonprofit agencies that fight domestic violence and help women and children in need, among other very important things.

I believe the topics that it touches on are still relevant and educaitonal to many women and girls today such as body image, puberty, FGM, … I like reclaiming the word CUNT. I have to say that the word vagina became nicer to hear after having heard it so many times in such a positive way. I like how the play brings women’s issues and experiences to the forefront of our consciousness, if only for a night.

THe play is a play in the sense that it is the same for the most part every time it is performed, and every year there is a spotlight monologue that is added (new) which also gets money donated to agencies that work specifically towards that need or cause. I don’t expect the play to touch on every issue as that would make for one very long ass night! But I think VDay and the Vagina Monologues has become a worldwide phenomenon that has brouhgt some really important issues to light as well as donating millions of dollars to different orgs.

Also, It is performed around the world. What is old news to you may be very new news to someone say in Iran. It would be ridiculous to expect Eve Ensler to write different plays for different countries it was being performed in depending on the levels of education on these subjects.

All in all, I had a fabulous time being a part of VM 2006.

12

Sorry, but the word cunt now belongs to Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, or rather, Derek and Clive.

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[quote=“sandman”]Sorry, but the word cunt now belongs to Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, or rather, Derek and Clive.[/quote]Ahh good. Does this mean the thread is now open to jokes and silliness?

(respectfully been waiting for this)

14

Seriously, what does “reclaiming the word CUNT” mean? Cunt is slang or archaic English for vagina, a curse word, or merely a word used in place of the word “person” or “bloke.” That’s what it means. How can you “reclaim” it? It means what it means. :s

15

I’m also not hearing much discussion on the ‘P—y’ word either.

Much nice on the ears than…arggh…CUNT.

And this was not a subtle nuanced reference to the old ‘How does a French women hold her lover’ joke.

16

Besides the fact that Erica Jong “reclaimed” the word for wimmen back in the 60’s in her book Fear of Flying, did you girls go and lose it again? Well, now that you’ve got it back, again, would you mind terribly holding on to your cunts this time?

17

Well said, Funnygirl!!!

And what’s up with the rest of you guys? I know I’ve seen you in other threads before…are you like the floating pranksters? Floating from thread to thread allllll day long?

Well, I guess that just means this thread is irrelevent now.

18

FOr me, reclaiming a word is for ex. taking a word such as CUNT, which has negative connotations in american society, and “reclaiming” it to mean what I want it to mean, which would be something powerful, positive and something that is MINE. Therefore, when I say it, I’m using it in a postive light without the neg conn. I’m taking it for myself.

19

Oops, posted at the same time. Thanks Funnygirl. So what you mean is that you basically ignore the negative connotations of the word? Because of course they still exist. (You seem to be American, so I’ll stick to your “negative” connotation, although in British English its mostly used as a much less “negative” word, and often as a completely neutral word – i.e. “look at that cunt over there” or “he’s not a bad cunt.”)
But whatever, those meanings still exist, just as the meaning you choose to acknowledge existed before and still exists. I don’t see how there’s any reclaiming going on.

20

Funnygirl, are you American? If so I very much doubt you can reclaim the word cunt, or at least pronounce it properly. It really isn’t Kant.

In any case, never mind the peanut gallery here, if you wimmin feel the need to listen to a giant twat monologuing across a stage and enjoy finding and losing your pink bits, that’s after all your business.

It does seem a tad old hat though.

HG