The “Cabaret”, Why it matters.
I’ve been writing a think piece about The musical Cabaret for a while now. I recently went to a showing of the 1972 movie adaptation at the Kentucky Theater.
In the movie adaptation during the end scene, once the Emcee runs off stage; the camera slowly pans over to a reflection of the crowd. Within this crowd there are 3 to 4 Nazis sitting among the other participants. this reflection looks as it’s a mirror of the real audience that is sitting in-front of the screen. This message may be missed if it is watched from the couch instead of the theater. Which reminded me why I started writing my think piece.
The reason that a story such as the Cabret is so important and well done is because it’s reflective of the world. It settles into a strange pocket of relativity. The art that once asks us, “what would you have done,” but now asks “what are you going to do?”
Are you going to stay to preform and indulge such a Sally Bowels did. Will you be aware and leave such as Clifford. How many Ernsts are in your life? Are you too jaded and going to submit to a cause you do not believe in for your own sake? Are you the target? Are you a cabaret dancer completely indulging in blind submission. Stories like these require our attention and empathy. To put our feet into someone shoes as our country follows the footsteps of another.
The question requires more from the audience than just a laugh and watch. It requires the reflection of not just ones inner-self but how individuals interact with the world around them. It brings light to the suffocation and confusion that unchecked power causes. While also connecting the audience to the average life experiences of love, indulgence, anger, and fear. Which are easier connected to. This is what art is meant to do; make you think, open your eyes to the things that may feel to complex or difficult to understand.
When a complex issue or concept is brought to attention weather it is internal or external. It is much easier to turn heads the other direction staying in a safe bubble, than the alternative of facing it head on. In cases of larger issues beside ignoring the overflowing trash or stepping outside comfort zones. larger social issues can cause a bystander effect. Were one becoming aware of an issue and actively ignores it, sometime out of willful ignorance, or simply ignorance. Once enough heads are turned it allows for complete uncheck power.
Our brains want to protect us as much as possible, to keep our hearts and minds safe from harm. That is where empathy comes in, understanding a situation outside of your own personal life structure. Often when our heads turn, we are suppressing the steps it takes to gain sympathy for others. However, we do not live in a world that allows us to always have this protection, and empathy is needed to protect humanity. It also requires us to look back at those before us and see where they may have fallen short. Because silence is not always the answer.
The Cabaret continently ask the audience to reflect on themselves and the world around them. It gives way to an infinite warning of reveling the horrors within human history. Though art, story telling, and entertainment these complex systems can become more digestible. The empathy and awareness that is absorbed, ought to allow space to explore changes that can be made, so similar mistakes are avoided.
Source: The “Cabaret”, Why it matters.
