Theory

Norman Yeung

• Publisher: Playwrights Canada Press
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9780369101617
• eBook ISBN: 9780369101631
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Canadian Drama
• Index: Literature

Is there a limit to free speech? Who gets to decide?

Isabelle's film theory students are stunned that she would open an unmoderated online discussion group to complement a controversial syllabus. Her intention was for them to learn from each other, but when an anonymous student starts to post racist comments and offensive videos on the forum and others challenge Isabelle's methods, she is forced to decide whether to intervene or to let the social experiment play out. But the posts soon turn abusive and threatening to Isabelle's relationship with her wife, Lee, causing her to take matters into her own hands.

In this thrilling exploration of the intersections and divisions within liberalism, a young tenure-track professor finds herself in a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse that has her questioning her beliefs and fighting back for her life.

Theory

Isabelle in the lecture hall.

Isabelle: Thoughts?

Pause.

Enjoy using it. Now let’s take a look at the syllabus and — Yes?

Richard: Will you be reading it?

Isabelle: Yes.

Jorge: Will you be using it?

Isabelle: No.

Jorge: If you’re reading it then you’re using it.

Isabelle: Only to offer help, answer questions —

Jorge: That’s using it.

Isabelle: I had the discussion board made for you, not me. Let’s take a look at the syllabus and — Yes?

Richard: Why do we have two?

Isabelle: I was just about to — Yeah?

Davinder: So you’re the moderator?

Isabelle: Of the discussion board? Absolutely not.

Davinder: Then who is?

Isabelle: Yourselves.

Davinder: So, no one. Like, look at us.

Isabelle: You all deserve more credit than people give you.

Davinder: Have you even looked at a forum?

Isabelle: Yes. You’ll hold each other accountable to your right to speak. And be listened to.

Richard: Will you be grading what we say on the board?

Isabelle: I wouldn’t know it’s you. You don’t have to register your student IDs.

Jorge: No way . . .

Isabelle: Way. Now everyone take a look at this syllabus. The first one.

Jorge: No way. Everything’s recorded on school servers.

Isabelle: Not if the board was made outside the university.

Safina: You can’t do that.

Isabelle shrugs.

Isabelle: Meh.

Jorge: Dope!

Isabelle: Yes it is dope. But stay on topic. The board is for discussions about theory. Film criticism, media’s role in society . . . The board is not for who’s gonna make sandwiches for craft services or other matters from your production course. And no gossip, god please!

Davinder: Could you please delete if we do?

Isabelle: Absolutely not. The board is your responsibility.

Safina: That’s a lot of responsibility we weren’t asking for.

Isabelle: It’s time teachers and students started trusting each other again.

Davinder: Yeah no, you can’t, like, just do forcible trusting on us.

Richard: What if we don’t want to use it?

Isabelle: Why wouldn’t you — ? Hey. My class will not be a lecture: me to you. Our class will be a dialogue and I encourage you all to speak up, which some of you have no problem doing thank you very much. We’ll be learning from each other and that means talking to each other. Shutting down someone’s thoughts ain’t cool in this room. Same with the board, okay? Keep sharing ideas beyond this lecture hall, especially those of you who feel more comfortable speaking online instead of in front of a hundred students. You’re included in our community.

Davinder: You might wanna be like “um maybe not” on the anonymous part.

Isabelle: You can use your real name. Up to you. Your identity is yours: your name, your pronoun, your words . . . Don’t you feel empowered?

Silence.

Jorge: Yeah.

Isabelle: Okay! Syllabus. The first one. This is the one handed to me by the department. Look at it . . . Buncha dead white dudes . . . We’ve been shown their images and told their stories for over a hundred years. Now rip it out.

Students hesitate.

Richard: Does it matter that they’re dead white dudes if their films are masterpieces?

Isabelle: Gotta make room for new masterpieces. Rip.

They rip the page out of their binders.

Are you aware that all of you are oppressed by the institution? Obscene tuition and student loans...

Table of contents

• Copyright
• Dedication
• Class Is in Session by April Sizemore-Barber
• Playwright’s Notes
• Production History
• Characters
• Notes
• Theory
• Afterword by Esther Jun
• Acknowledgements
• About the Author