The Paris Commune of 1871 was the first instance of a working class seizing power from capitalists and their allies. Mitch Abidor and Zoe Beloff will speak about how the Commune is presented and represented, both politically and artistically. In what ways was it unique and in what ways did it serve as an example? What lessons for today are to be gathered from what was experienced during the Commune? What further lessons might we learn while performing a Commune-based play during a peak activist moment?
MITCH ABIDOR is the translator and editor of the new collection of translations of writings by Communards, Voices of the Paris Commune, published by PM Press.
ZOE BELOFF directed a series of street performances of Brecht’s play The Days of the Commune in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street. She will present filmed excerpts.