The Hoohaa Monologues

[Craig T Gustafson]

Everybody who knows me knows what I think of censorship: it's fucking ridiculous. And speaking of ridiculous fucking censorship... from Metro.co.uk:

No vaginas please, we're Floridian
Thursday, February 8, 2007

<center>
What a load of hoohaa</center>

A theatre in Florida had to change the title of a charity production of The Vagina Monologues on its marquee, after a woman complained that it was offensive.

The new name? They decided on The Hoohaa Monologues.

Then, they had to change it back after the play's producers said that the lack of offense was offensive.

Atlantic Theatres in Atlantic Beach, Florida, received a complaint from a woman who'd seen the advertised title as she drove past with her niece. She said that it had made her niece ask her what a vagina was.

The theatre's Bryce Pfanenstiel commented: 'I'm on the phone and asked ?What did you tell her?? She's like, ?I'm offended I had to answer the question.?'

So the theatre, anxious to avoid controversy, decided that the childish slang word 'hoohaa' was the most appropriate thing to replace 'vagina'.

Some have welcomed the change to The Hoohaa Monologues, while others have expressed some confusion. 'It sounds like a country band,' one passer by commented to local TV station WJXT.

The production was being staged by a group of law students, with all proceeds going to charity.

The director of the play demanded that the title be changed back, saying that they only had the rights to the play if its contents - including the title - were not censored.

As a result, two days after the hoohaa brouhaha began, the vagina was returned to its rightful place on the billboard.

The Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler's award-winning international hit play, is an attempt to celebrate the vagina as an object of empowerment, rather than of shame. There's some way to go with that one, clearly.

[Dan Muir]

I have a theory.

Since political correctness was invented to keep from offending others, it seems that most people feel that they can lower their defensive shields and expect apologies or alterations if any unpleasentness comes their way. Almost like if profuse apologies or lawsuits can fix the problem:

"I'm offended. That offends me. Fix it. Say you're sorry or give me money." Just grow up.

"The Hoohaa Monologues"??? How are we supposed to know it's "The Vagina Monologues"? It sounds like they're promoting a different show, or a parody. Wasn't there a parody called "The Viagra Monologues"? If take-offs of shows like TVM come out, change the name and you'll risk causing people to think it's a different show. And not show up!

Perhaps some other show's titles should be changed, in that case. Does anyone remember "Puppetry of the Penis" from a few years ago? Better change that, we might offend someone. Instead, let's think of a different name for the "P" word. Crank? Man-Thing? Peter O'Toole? Dick Johnson? C'mon, that's silly. Keep it the way it is. No balls about it.

Besides, since when is "vagina" an offensive word?