Archive for the 'Activism' Category

Plains of Abraham Aftermath: First Nations Healing Ceremony or Eurocentric debate?

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

Now that the plan to re-enact the Plains of Abraham colonial war has been canned, a debate is brewing about what should replace the event that was designed to mark the 250 year anniversary. While the National Battlefield Commission is blaming “separatist threats of violence” for the cancellation, it is becoming increasingly clear that there was very little appetite in […]

When a victory isn’t as sweet as it could be… or what are you doing tonight?

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

As plans were underway late Friday afternoon for a last-ditch theatrical protest to stop the City of Montreal’s proposed anti-mask law from passing, word broke that the city was backpedaling on the proposed legislation and would not be voting on it at tonight’s council meeting as planned. While this news sounded at first like a […]

Bury the Red Apple

Monday, February 16th, 2009

In Armenia a very old rite called “The Red Apple” marks the woman’s loss of virginity following the night of her wedding. It can be argued that this symbolizes much more than simply a “loss of virginity”, indeed, the symbolism of the celebration is very violent. Armenians celebrate weddings by chanting and dancing outside and […]

Quebec Anglos join the Plaines debate

Friday, February 13th, 2009

We’ve been talking quite a bit about the controversy surrounding the proposed re-enactment of the battle of the Plains of Abraham in this space, but since our last post on the subject a couple of days ago, others have been speaking about it as well. From federal Heritage Minister Josee Verner’s profound disgust at people […]

Plains of Abraham Battle Heats Up

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

A battle is heating up in Quebec City regarding the Plains of Abraham, but it isn’t exactly the sort of fight that the National Battlefields Commission was hoping for. As reported earlier 2009 marks the 250th anniversary of the infamous Plains of Abraham battle at Quebec City that signified the defeat of “New France” to British imperialists, and […]

Mayor Billy? The Reverend is running for office in NYC

Friday, February 6th, 2009

In an attempt to save the final remaining uncommodified public spaces in New York City from corporations, theatre activist Bill Talen, aka Reverend Billy of the Church of Stop Shopping, is running for mayor. “This may be a canvass upon which to dramatize the kinds of things we’ve talked to you about today,” Talen said […]

Infringing this summer

Monday, February 2nd, 2009

So what’s the Montreal infringement festival going to be like this year?  Good question! While the infringement may have been mentioned several times on this blog already and anyone who knows OTL has heard of the festival, we have never really discussed it in any detail in this space.  The sixth consecutive edition of the […]

Bal Masqué un grand succès!!! Theatrical Masquerade Ball challenges Montreal’s anti-mask bylaw

Friday, January 30th, 2009

On Monday night over 50 masked protesters descended on City Hall for a Masquerade Ball protest – the Bal Masqué. Organized by an ad hoc collective known as Le Gros Bon Sens, the masked demonstration aimed to challenge the anti-mask bylaw the City of Montreal is attempting to pass as part of its larger “Public […]

Mask update: a call to action

Friday, January 23rd, 2009

After it was announced here and other places that the city of Montreal was seeking to ban masks at protests, people opposed have not been silent and it seems that this issue will not go away. And why should it? This incursion on our rights to free expression has even garnered opponents in more conservative […]

Cars, stories and people

Wednesday, January 21st, 2009

Of all the projects OTL has created, Car Stories is most certainly the longest-running, at times has been the most controversial and if it wasn’t for the infringement Festival, a true viral phenomenon, it would undoubtedly be the best known. In a nutshell, Car Stories is a play containing several shorter plays, a piece of […]