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This assignment discusses whether or not to rent out a church hall for a theatrical production of the play "Hair." The position taken is that the hall should not be rented because the play contains ethical issues and scenes that are incompatible with the values and image of the church. The reasons concern the play's content, including nudity, drug use, disrespect towards symbols such as the American Flag, and themes of rebellion against authority and traditional values.
Specifically, the play features a scene in which Berger is required to remove his trousers to display a loincloth, which is deemed inappropriate for an audience associated with a church. The play's portrayal of nudity and drug use could be interpreted as endorsing undesirable behaviors, and hosting such content within church premises might suggest tacit approval or endorsement of these themes. From an ethical perspective, the church is expected to uphold and promote positive values, and providing a venue for a production that potentially condones or glamorizes such behaviors conflicts with this role.
Furthermore, the play depicts acts that demonstrate disrespect towards national symbols, particularly the American Flag, which could offend patriotic sentiments among audience members and tarnish the church's reputation as a respectful and reverent institution. Additionally, the rebellious attitudes expressed by characters, especially toward parents and authority figures, could influence impressionable audiences—particularly children—to adopt similar rebellious behaviors, undermining the traditional moral teachings associated with the church community.
This negative depiction systematically outweighs any potential positive themes from the play, such as themes of love, peace, or social justice, which are also present but overshadowed by scenes of vulgarity and rebellion. The church's role in the community includes fostering positive, morally upright activities, and hosting a play that introduces controversial themes and scenes would undermine that objective. Therefore, renting out the hall for this production would not align with the church's mission and could potentially damage its public image by associating it with content it seeks to oppose.
In conclusion, based on ethical considerations, the content of the play, and the church’s desire to uphold its moral and respectful image, it would be inappropriate to rent the hall for the production of "Hair." The play's themes and scenes are incompatible with the church's values and could lead to controversy, misinterpretation, and societal harm. Churches should prioritize activities that reflect their teachings and promote positive community values, rather than hosting content that could undermine their moral authority
and community standing.
References
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The theatre will rock: a history of the rock musical, from hair to Hedwig . University of Michigan Press.
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