Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play
The genre of post apocalyptic holds a high capability of offering fascination to its audiences for decades. The general thought in regard to the approach of the world’s end and the triggering thought of the humans reaction in the situation intrigues and also scares simultaneously. The phenomena develops a deep Individuals questioning in regard to the surrounding and the humanity’s core. ‘’Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play’’ is an interesting take that is based on post apocalypse narration which was inspired by The Simpsons a world’s most preferred and popular TV family (Brantley 1). With the depletion of electricity in the world based on some illnesses or rather some nuclear failures that spread rapidly and killed civilization a survivor’s small group sticks together. As a reminder to the survivor of what was prior, some classic lines are enacted from the inspiration ‘’The Simpsons’’ which is effective in creating hilarity and deeper meaning. The play dwells on the primary theme of the creation of stories that are passed from a single generation to the other, thus creating a further meaning for each generation (Brantley 1). This creates the comforting notion that even if times comes and humanity dies creativity will remain, and the myths resulting from the existence on earth will be present given that a single individual will be left to make the narration.
Washburn primary objective in the play seems to be delivering the message that everyday issues as well as the involved events should be taken as part of narration which will produce a distinct meaning with time (Hurwitt 1). Given the particular background, Washburn decides to utilize some knowledge from the familiarity of different sources and particularly ‘’The Simpsons’’. In that the play considers all things as the major parts of the popular culture that makes survival inside the memories of individuals throughout the apocalypse nuclear is perceived as ironic and also strange. With the destruction of the electric grind individuals are forced to adopt a world that has no television, telephones, radiators or even electric stoves. They have to regress to the older forms of engagement similar to storytelling however instated of adopting higher literature they are forced to recall about the popular culture that everyone recalls (Brantley 1).
The play makes a lot of revelation that regards the modern person’s engagement with popular culture. The play cannot be described as a general celebration of a highly preferred sitcom or even a popular culture’s satire of obsessive that increases its mythic level. However, it is a major exploration of the layered significance of mass cultural icons that exists in the fragmenting in the world (Brantley 1). This is the manner in which individuals currently cling to the known in the center of crisis as well as the changing authority that is held by telling stories. The scary play is characterized by uniqueness, sweetness, and fascination by offering detailed and descriptive reports regarding the perception of popular culture by the modern people and its significance. The play displays its curiosity of the kinds of cultural memories that individuals would cling to with the disappearance of what is highly valued in the world. The play sends the primary message that if individuals are good at holding onto culture as well as arts this means that the ability of holding on to humanness will still be retained even in the occurrence of apocalypse (Hurwitt 1). This implies that changing civilization into barbarism is hindered by many things since there are some governing laws and religion but all this cannot be compared to arts.
Washburn’s play title as Mr. Burns demonstrates the significance of the TV series ‘’The Simpsons’’ for the narration. The issue with the terminology popular culture is based on its vagueness (Brantley 1). Currently it is very challenging to describe popular culture based on its broad spread. In the play the familiarity with distinct sources seems to be an effective selection as the depiction of our engagement with popular culture. The main objective of the play is to restrict the audiences from vibration to a single direction on demonstration about the issues that the modern individuals only care about which are driven by electricity. The modern engagement with popular culture is well demonstrated in the play which shows the easy way through which the phenomenon of popular culture can be restored by another one (Hurwitt 1).
The play demonstrates its primary focus by the main characters as the small survivors group by incorporating current trends and issues and the existing world event (Hurwitt 1). The involved characters are pressured to deal with the issues thus introducing subjects such as politics as well as religion in a manner that generates descriptive satirical reflection of the present world in which we exist. With the utilization of satire as the primary mode of delivering the story Washburn provokes positive responses while simultaneously evoking increased significance as compared to other series. The significance is something that sets a long-term popular culture occurrence which differs with the short run trends which helps in creating the connection with the modern engagement with the popular culture (Brantley 1).
Washburn utilizes the notion as her primary point of her dystopia play. The narrative by Washburn, Mr. Burn is one that is set in the short run future as the play states at the beginning. The play begins in a normal scenario where some individuals are seated by the campfire re-narrating Simpsons stories (Brantley 1). Eventually, it becomes apparent that the gathering is far from a leisure meeting. The situation is something that can best be recalled by everyone. In the second act after the passing of seven years the survivors have well adopted to their situation and they start enacting Simpsons episodes for payment (Brantley 1). The theatre field becomes very competitive since the competitors gains their earning by doing similar things. The survivors are pressured to get by and with desperation they have the will of getting involved in everything which generates corruption.
The entertainments that are demonstrated in the second and that Act is presented in one of the major touches by Washburn. In that the mocked up comedies or entertainment are a mere shows within another show which are designed by the regenerated domestic life’s scenes which have been damaged by apocalypse (Washburn 2). The play offers a subtly dramatized procedure of cultural transformation in the era of mass media. In the post apocalyptic Washburn’s world Conard Joseph, Williams Tennessee and William Shakespeare works clear services only ‘’The Simpsons’’ episodes. The play Mr. Burn depicts popular culture as the primary diversion from the existing reality. During the first section of the first scene the Dystopia setting of the setting does not come into the direct focus (Brantley 1).
The passage of time in the play since when it had started in Act holds on impact on the manner in which individuals views and understand the story. From the first act it seems as if the audiences considers the play to be a depiction of a scenario rather than a play. In that the survivors are trying to recall the events before the fall of civilization (Washburn 2). In that the popular cultures that survives from the play are only those that are characterized by creativity rather than modernity. In case that the modern development fails individuals are forced to recall and to adopt to the old creative cultures and search for other ways of surviving. As time passes comfort and the ability to adopt to the fresh environment begins to increase since the lost culture is replaced by a different one that generates a different significance to the existing generation (Washburn 2).
It is not a wonder that the apocalypse thoughts remains in the individuals shared consciousness worth the provision of the current and the present pressure of the nuclear plants aging, coral reefs bleaching and high storms without the consideration of terrorists threats that are ever present. The issues that are ever present in the individuals mind is their reactions to the situations, the strategies of coping and those that are best suited to survive which as the modern popular culture is well depicted in the play Mr. Burn by Washburn. The play moves the modern persons concerns further but provoking the worry of humanity and civilizations ability to endure and whether they will remain as the primary heritage (Brantley 1). Washburn derives the opinion that paintings, literature , architecture and symphonies will obviously disappear. However, as for the popular culture that is based on creativity such as the shows that individuals watch together at homes or while chilling around their TV sets are all that will remain which is similar to their Odyssey and the bible as a representation of their beliefs and cultural grounds (Washburn 4).
The play is divided into three sections which are effective in showing the implication of time to the value of popular culture as well as individuals perceptions. The first Act occurs within a short period after the passing of the un-described disaster that is shown to have resulted in the meltdown of the world’s nuclear and all its power (Washburn 2). This demonstrates a change of living and an adoption of an older culture in suiting the existing needs and preferences of the survivors. As five individuals gathers around the campfire one is watching from a leafless tree’s patch. Instead of showing their concern about shelter, clothing or even food their conversation is mainly centered on ‘’The Simpsons’’ which is a popular show in the television at that period. It therefore looks like the most significant thing is recalling Cape Feare’s episodes details while they exist. With the loss of electricity they have flashlights powered by lithium as well as guns for protection and surviving through the darkness (Washburn 2).
The second Act appears like seven years later with the presence of improvised lines and the survivors are in a new situation where they have been hardened by life and in order to survive they are forced to produce shows so that their commercials can be completed (Washburn 3). The third act is particularly eight three years since the occurrence of devastation and the destruction that is combined with Simpsons episodes has already been changed into an opera sung through, that is portrayed by masked characters who are involved in the singing of versed couplets and in the heaven’s glimpse is where they end. The play’s characters creates an ensemble that integrates in different ways that is becomes challenging to identify each (Brantley 1). This therefore, shows how the modernity popular culture can make individuals to appear as one based on their ambitions and the desperation of surviving through the harsh times.
Conclusion
It is apparent that Mr. Burn play that is authored by Washburn is a depiction of popular culture’s ability to survive changes since it is based on creativity . the central theme of the play is mainly the generation of short stories which are passed to a single generation to another and this creates significant and different life’s meaning. The play creates the notion that time helps in adopting to the created changes as well as the general ability to implement strategies for survival. With changes desperation and the loss of morality creates high competition which in turn creates high state of corruption. Washburn designs a comforting idea that even at that time when humanity dies, creativity will remain fully and earth’s life mythical development will also go on provided that there is an individual or more left surviving to offer the narration.
Work Cited
Brantley, Ben. Stand up, survivors: Homer is with you. 2013. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/16/theater/reviews/mr-burns-a-post-electric-play-at-playwrights-horizons.html
Hurwitt, Sam. In post-Apocalyptic Mr. Burns, The Simpsons are literally legendary. 2015. Retrieved from https://ww2.kqed.org/arts/2015/02/27/in-post-apocalyptic-mr-burns-the-simpsons-are-literally-legendary/
Washburn, Anne. Words On Play, Mr. Burns A Post Electric Play. Insight into the Play, the Play Wright and the Production. ACT, 2015.Pdf
