![]() One of the simplest and finest products of anti-apartheid theatre, The Island draws on Greek tragedy to suggest that there is a higher law of humanity than the law of the state. AT: Die Hodoshe Span A: Athol Fugard, with John Kani and Winston Ntshona Pf: 1973, Cape Town Pb: 1974 G: Drama in 1 act S: Robben Island prison, c.1970 C: 2m. He studied philosophy and social anthropology at the University of Cape Town, but dropped out before his final examinations. In 1935, his family moved to Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Fugard was born in South Africa in 1932 to English and Afrikaner parents. It takes place in four scenes, opening with a lengthy mimed sequence in which John and Winston, two cell mates in prison on Robben Island, carry out one of the totally pointless and exhausting tasks designed by warders to break. The Island (1973) Athol Fugard A Quick Rundown of The Island - The Island is a Fugard play that resorts to the Classics to protest Apartheid. Mandela himself was given a life sentence for both being a member of the African National Congress, an outlawed party and for bombing public utility facilities, thus branding him a terrorist. Second, as in the case with Nelson Mandela, political activists resort to armed acts of resistance that can be seen as 'criminal' even if the resistance is justified by systematic racist or other forms of massive political and social repression. In these circumstances, even membership in a particular political party is deemed a crime. First, political activity might be deemed 'criminal' by a state through legal means either by the legislative bodies or the courts. However, as we will see, the lines can blur between political activity and criminal activity in two basic ways. As is the case elsewhere such as in Northern Ireland, Russia, even Guantanomo Bay, and elsewhere, where prisoners are condemned sometimes for life, for political activity as opposed to what we might refer to as criminal activity by a western or U.S. Part of what this week will introduce as well, includes an example of 'political prisons' which exist only for the purpose of political repression. #THE ISLAND BY ATHOL FUGARD PDF FREE FULL#You will also view a few short clips from the original production of The Island, to give you feel for the play, as a full screening of the play is not available, but you'll get a taste of it in performance. The play texts for The Island, and My Children, My Africa are now added as PDF's under 'Additional Readings' on the website. We will also read The Island, by Athol Fugard, John Kani and Winston Ntshona. In these last two weeks we will study the history and features of Apartheid as practiced in South Africa, and look at the prison system, township administration, the history of Robben Island and the struggle of the political prisoners under Apartheid. ![]()
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