Students criticize 'Mikado' play for 'cultural appropriation'

Campus Reform ^ | April 19, 2018 | Mitchell Gunter

[C19fan]

Some students at Fort Hays State University (FHSU) in Kansas say a school-sponsored operetta production is not only “racist,” but also rife with “cultural appropriation.”

FHSU Music and Theatre describes its production of The Mikado as “a fun burlesque romp about the whimsy of love” on its Facebook page. According to the operetta’s description, the play takes place “in a mythical Japan,” where the main character “has been appointed Lord High Executioner and must find someone to execute before the arrival of the ruling Mikado.”

[C19fan]

Hey Ho, Hey Ho, Aida and Madame Butterfly Has Got to Go!

[Telepathic Intruder]

“Some students”. The ones that don’t know what fun is unless it’s pointing their fingers and screeching “RACIST”.

[Crucial]

I’m sorry the snowflakes feewlings are hurt. I guess no culture can appreciate another. But, isn’t that racist? Poor racist snowflakes...

[Army Air Corps]

To a hammer, everything is a nail. They are good little Chekists.

[leaning conservative]

Can you even imagine!!!??? For some people that’s their sole hobby in life. I guess more fun stuff for me until they come for it.......

[9YearLurker]

The whole cultural appropriation thing is such idiocy.

Cultural marxism — of course, any marxism — is a pox upon our planet.

[beethovenfan]

The Mikado is great fun. The PC idiots take all joy out of living.

[LibertarianLiz]

There is an old movie called Topsy Turvy which covers the creation of The Mikado. It is kind of a long movie 2-1/2 hrs, but it has most of the music of the Mikado in it and it was the introduction of Jim Broadbent to me, as it was the first film I saw him in. He was Gilbert of the Gilbert and Sullivan team. I enjoyed this movie; but, you would have to be okay with listening to Gilbert and Sullivan music.

[small farm girl]

Maybe cutting to close to home? As some day it may happen that a victim must be found, I’ve got a little list — I’ve got a little list Of society offenders who might well be underground, And who never would be missed — who never would be missed! There’s the pestilential nuisances who write for autographs — All people who have flabby hands and irritating laughs — All children who are up in dates, and floor you with ’em flat — All persons who in shaking hands, shake hands with you like that — And all third persons who on spoiling tête-á-têtes insist — They’d none of ’em be missed — they’d none of ’em be missed!

[Fhios]

All theatre is cultural appropriation from the Greeks. :/

[Little Ray]

More candidates for the wood chipper when the revolution comes.

[Crolis]

No kidding. The Mikado is great fun. Leftists are like vampires, cursed undead who suck the life out of everything.

[glennaro]

As Dennis Prager often notes, the Left destroys everything it touches.

[Charles Martel]

We’re going to need a bigger wood chipper.

[Mercat]

I’ve been to Hayes KS. I’m pretty sure that the Japanese population is small if non-existent.

[Little Ray]

We’ll need lots of wood chippers and helicopters.

[left that other site]

The very imperfect ablutioners are full of Poo.

BAH!

[left that other site]

Don’t forget the Banjo Serenader and the others of his race...

Or the Lady Novelist.

I’ve got her on the list!

[x]

At some point, "cultural appropriation" becomes part of the culture of the appropriators. Over the centuries, noodles become Italian, potatoes become Irish, curry becomes British and giant steel foundries become Indian. Whites get maize (plus an awful lot of land) and the Sioux and Commanche get horses and guns (most likely not the better deal).

The Mikado becomes a part of English culture, more about England than some mythical Japan. A paradox that Gilbert and Sullivan might appreciate: if the Kansas kids stage an "authentic" Noh or Kabuki drama, wouldn't that be more of a "cultural appropriation" than putting on a hundred year old British comic opera?

Or are kids in the middle of America appropriating British culture by putting on Gilbert and Sullivan?

[GraceG]

Here is a bunch of Japanese people saying how broken up they are about people other than Japanese wearing kimonos...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pXotxxYFlk

Hint: they ain’t that broken up about it.