Schools
Playwright Edward Albee Advocates for Art-Enriched Education
Playwright Edward Albee spoke at Roger Williams University on Sunday, April 3, as part of the university's civil discourse lecture series, titled "Artists and Writers at Risk."
The stage was set for one, the seats for hundreds. Audience members began to file into their seats and waited in anticipation for the evening’s speaker. After a short introduction from Roger Williams University Provost Laura Niesen de Abruna, playwright Edward Albee stepped up to the podium.
Edward Albee is best known for his play “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” which was made into a movie starring Elizabeth Taylor in 1966.
Albee enchanted students, faculty and guests with his wisdom and witty remarks. He started off with a simple “Hey,” setting the tone for the rest of the discussion.
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“I liked that he wasn’t speaking from a speech, he was interacting with us,” said RWU senior Danya Martin. “It was great to have somebody artistic, in general, not just someone speaking about civil discourse.”
Albee discussed how the arts are diminishing within our culture. New generations are becoming culturally illiterate and unable to fully express themselves.
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“The arts are not encouraged in our higher learning places,” said Albee. “We need an educational system where young people are informed.”
The job of the artist is to inform and to make people think. Artists should not let themselves be silenced. It is the right of artists to speak their minds and to keep society alive.
“Being a creative artist anywhere is indeed a dangerous job,” said Albee. “You have to hold a mirror up to people, this is who you are, if you don’t like what you see why don’t you change? Why don’t you learn from it?”
Albee was informative and interesting to all generations that were in attendance.
“It didn’t disappoint,” said Peter Wright, RWU Theater Professor. “He was frank about what he thought and felt, he didn’t worry about being politically correct. It was refreshing.”
Edward Albee was the last of the speakers on the topic of “Artists and Writers at Risk.” Not only did he enlighten all who were in attendance but also he made a lasting impression. Albee allowed for minds to work and perhaps arts will take a slow step forward within present day society.
“Any time you’re sharing your mind with other people you’re putting yourself at risk," said Albee. "But how else do we learn?”
