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Joe Dudley discusses Juice as drama--and Nixon as Lear? Steven G. Kellman Although I have to admit to being pulled in by the drama (and then thrown back when I hear news anchors discussing whether on not the preliminary hearing is "good theatre") I don't think OJ can be catagorized with Lear or Oedipus for the simple reason that, now since we're postmodern, we can't use that language anymore. Of course, it's fine for the study of theatrical and literary history in the classroom, but it seems to me that the ins and outs of postmodern life must include a recognition that chaos is the only stable matrix for human interaction. Thus, OJ is simply a victim of the post-bomb, media saturated, chaotic west. Critical disection seems to occupy a space after the fact, when the event itself is so securely situated in the past that it has become a cultural talisman. This event is, unfortunately, not there yet. Off the track: I don't have as much trouble visualizing Nixon with the likes of Lear, but I think that the process described above (especially since his death) is well under way in his case. Joe Dudley Kent State, English jdudley@ksuvxb.kent.edu
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