Post by Hall on Dec 11, 2009 11:26:47 GMT -8
So, for the final in one of my classes was to do a project that had something to do with what art is. so, i wrote a script that is a conversation between two demons. im gonna develop it into a full fledged one act i think. but i think it would be cool to get some internet feed back.
Here we go:
Hell, Art, and the Son of the Devil
(Scene opens with Beelzebub sitting alone at a simple table. Dim lighting, soft spotlight on man, table, and adjacent empty chair. Beelzebub dressed in modern suit with jacket hanging on the back of his chair. Hat is still on his head. He is hunched over the table, picking with his fingers, like there’s something stuck on the table. Low jazz music is playing in the background. Another man is calling offstage, yelling about how hot it is. Walks in and sits down with the other man. He is wearing fifties business man attire)
Man: Beelzebub! How are you man! What has it been…a millennia since we’ve spoken last!? It is so good to see you. (Sits down in empty chair)
Beel: (without looking up) Likewise.
Man: So much has changed! I hear you’ve been busy turning souls on the Otherside? Who was the famous one you just brought back? Fredrick?
Beel: It was Benedict. (Looks up. Bitter) Do you know anything about the Otherside anymore, Legion?
Legion: Well I suppose a lot has changed since the days of possession and exorcism, but I like to think I could bring in a good haul if I had too, but we both know that I’m not aloud over there anymore.
Beel: So you haven’t crossed over since you were driven into the swine? How can you be so weak? (getting upset)
Legion: Woh woh woh, calm friend. What has you so upset? From what I hear y…
Beel: and what do you hear!? (bursts up)
Legion: (Calmly, Soothingly) from what I here, you have been acting peculiar since your last trip to the Otherside. Would you like to talk?
Beel: (Sits slowly) No. (Beat) I think our world is ugly.
Legion: This world is the epitome of corporeal misery and mental anguish. I don’t think aesthetic beauty was put into consideration.
Beel: And yet I can get this feeling out of my mind! Like I need to change this place. I need to give it more meaning somehow. And I know I can, I just don’t know how. This feeling, It burns inside me, this, artistic passion, this, beautiful pain! I feel a need to make beauty! Make Reason! Make Meaning! And I don’t know what to do.
Legion: Have you spoken to your father?
Beel: Of course not! He would shun me. There is no way that he could ever understand.
Legion: You have more in common with him then you could possibly imagine. Tell me, what happened the last time you crossed over?
Beel:… I… I don’t know. I had a plan. An old artist man was struggling with a portrait piece he was commissioned to paint. His hands were not as steady as they once were, and he didn’t have the strength or the energy to finish. So I offered him The Contract. Standard Youth for ten years in exchange for one’s soul. (Legion nods in understanding) It was different though, this time. When he saw me, it’s like he already knew I was there, no, no, not that I was there, but he knew that I would be there. It was like his eyes were always staring at truth that hadn’t been shaped yet. Then, he turned down the deal and offered a counter proposal instead, as Americans will often do. But once again, this was abnormal. He offered his soul in exchange for the ability to finish the artwork beautifully, then he would die, and I would bring him back to hell.
Why would he do that? I don’t get it.
Legion: So, what did you do?
Beel: I granted his wish. I gave him Strength and Inspiration. He finished the work. And then I killed him and took his soul.
Legion: I’m not sure I understand the issue?
Beel: Of course you don’t! No one can.
Legion: Just try explaining it to me. What about this has you so bothered?
Beel: …(sigh) I don’t understand the gifts I gave him. Well, the strength I understand. That’s simple. I’ve given that to others before. Many ask for it. Either that or power. But I also gave him… inspiration. And that is deeply troublesome to me, because I can’t understand it.
Legion: Well, inspiration is a means, a tool if you would, that humans use to continue living their meager and pointless lives. Often inspiration is only considered for something specific, like a wok of art or the passion of love, whereas overall will to live is a better way to describe what keeps humans hopeful and fighting their entire lives. As Angels, or, more appropriately, Demons, we have the ability to give and take this. It helps us in our tasks and duties.
Beel: You say we can give and take it to and from whomever, but that is not true. Unlike strength and power which I can give to any being in abundance, even me, Inspiration and a Will to live Is something that I can only give to others! Or at least, that used to be the case. I’m not sure how, but I fear I am… Inspired.
Legion: What! That’s unbelievable! The will to live was not a gift given to our kind because of our immortality. It was thought to be impossible to have such feelings! Is it a mistake?
Beel: I’ve considered that, so I talked to the old man again.
Legion: How did you find him?
Beel: Actually, he found me. Haphazardly. It happened moments before you arrived. He’s gone now. But he reassured me, this sensation is the will to strive forward and, create. And I want to do that. I’ve decided just now. I want to be an artist! I want to create! But I fear I need your help. (Beat. their eyes lock. Legion chuckles.)
Legion: It seems you follow your father’s footsteps of challenging the nature of our existence. His way of doing things was just much more violent. (beat) Of course I will help you. I can’t very well just let you go insane without a companion. You know, I am a master in other worldly art? I mean… I never created anything; I only have knowledge of it.
Beel: Wonderful! (The mood has changed dramatically. Beel is now bubbly and delighted, while Legion is slightly more reserved.) I have so many Ideas going through my mind! I want to do so much! But I guess, since you are the master, I should ask you the vital question. What is art?
Legion: Hmm. Well art is the assembling of materials to make an image, I suppose. This of course includes sculpture and painting and drawing and the like.
Beel: That can’t be it, it’s too limited. What about the performing arts, like dance and acting?
Legion: I suppose you’re right. Well then Art is simply the assembling of materials to make an image, and Performing.
Beel: But then that assumes all performing is art, whether intended or not, and whether there is ever even an audience.
Legion: Well, maybe that is the case. Art can, hypothetically, happen accidentally and I also suppose it can happen anywhere, even alone.
Beel: So the conclusion is that art is all intentional and accidental assemblages of materials to make images, and all performances, whether for an audience or alone, and whether it is intended or not!
Legion: Not quite, we forgot literature.
Beel: Ah! Literature! Where could that possibly fall?
Legion: Some literature is most definitely artistic and beautiful, but there is also some written word that I don’t think is very nice.
Beel: But should we dismiss something as not being art simply because one disagrees with it? Should not even the smallest of men have interests that may or may not match that of the majority? And if we cannot dismiss them, is it not safe to assume that all written word is art for the fact that words would not exist if there was no one to appreciate them.
Legion: You speak true words old friend! Art Is the assembling of materials to make images, any act of performance, whether there is a crowd or not, and all forms of the written word which any man could find interesting, which we may assume is all works of the word, and all of this may be accidental or completely on purpose!
Beel: And while this definition we have formed is extensive, I fear we are still missing what the key to what art truly is. Oh No! We have neglected Music!
Legion: Damn! Well, it is not too late, and this may be the final piece to the puzzle that is understanding art!
Beel: Thank you for your high spirits, Legion, I would be lost on this journey without you!
Legion: Haha calm down boy, we aren’t done yet!
Beel: Yes! Music is obviously art.
Legion: Obviously, that is not really the question though. The true question is what can be considered music.
Beel: I believe music is just organized sound. Thus all sound made from instruments, that is sung, by man or beast, and that is synthesized by technology is music, and can be considered as such.
Legion: I couldn’t have put it better!
Beel: Then we have our definition! Art is all accidental or planned materials that form an image, any and all performances, whether alone or for others, all forms of the written word, whether literature or article, and all music that is created or assembled in an organized fashion!
Legion: Yes! Now that we have answered that pesky question, we can move on to the creation! I was thinking we could get some paint and you could start by…
Beel: Hold on.
Legion: What’s wrong?
Beel: You must forgive me, but I have not been around since the beginning, and you have, thus you are far wiser, so I was hoping you could answer few more of my questions.
Legion: Of course Beel! I’ve already come this far on the journey; I will help you until the end!
Beel: Thank you. Now, as per our definition, we perceive art as man-made things, am I correct?
Legion: Yes.
Beel: And was not man, and Angel, created by The One God?
Legion: Well, yes that is also true.
Beel: By that logic, Should not all of what The One God created also be considered art? And did not The One God create all things, if not actively then indirectly?
Legion: Yes, and I believe I see where you are going with this!
Beel: Everything on some level, can, and should, be perceived as art! And creating art is doing the work of The One God… Which is what our kind was banished into hell to never be a part of again.
Legion: Sigh. Look. If this is something that you feel a passion for, you are the only one here who could do it because you were not banished; you are not forsaken to this place. It is just where you were born. The One God may have plans for you yet! So my advice is to follow your newfound passion to the end, but this is sadly, where I must disembark from the adventure. The path ahead of you is something that I physically cannot be a part of. I am surprised I came as far as I did. Thank you for the wonderful discussion.
Beel: You don’t have to go! You don’t have to participate! Just follow me!
Legion: Sadly, even that is too much. You need to fulfill your new duty of creation alone... Goodbye Kaiser De Emperana Beelzebub, Son of Kaiser De Emperana Lucifer, you have been a good friend to me.
Beel: Wait!… goodbye Legion.
Here we go:
Hell, Art, and the Son of the Devil
(Scene opens with Beelzebub sitting alone at a simple table. Dim lighting, soft spotlight on man, table, and adjacent empty chair. Beelzebub dressed in modern suit with jacket hanging on the back of his chair. Hat is still on his head. He is hunched over the table, picking with his fingers, like there’s something stuck on the table. Low jazz music is playing in the background. Another man is calling offstage, yelling about how hot it is. Walks in and sits down with the other man. He is wearing fifties business man attire)
Man: Beelzebub! How are you man! What has it been…a millennia since we’ve spoken last!? It is so good to see you. (Sits down in empty chair)
Beel: (without looking up) Likewise.
Man: So much has changed! I hear you’ve been busy turning souls on the Otherside? Who was the famous one you just brought back? Fredrick?
Beel: It was Benedict. (Looks up. Bitter) Do you know anything about the Otherside anymore, Legion?
Legion: Well I suppose a lot has changed since the days of possession and exorcism, but I like to think I could bring in a good haul if I had too, but we both know that I’m not aloud over there anymore.
Beel: So you haven’t crossed over since you were driven into the swine? How can you be so weak? (getting upset)
Legion: Woh woh woh, calm friend. What has you so upset? From what I hear y…
Beel: and what do you hear!? (bursts up)
Legion: (Calmly, Soothingly) from what I here, you have been acting peculiar since your last trip to the Otherside. Would you like to talk?
Beel: (Sits slowly) No. (Beat) I think our world is ugly.
Legion: This world is the epitome of corporeal misery and mental anguish. I don’t think aesthetic beauty was put into consideration.
Beel: And yet I can get this feeling out of my mind! Like I need to change this place. I need to give it more meaning somehow. And I know I can, I just don’t know how. This feeling, It burns inside me, this, artistic passion, this, beautiful pain! I feel a need to make beauty! Make Reason! Make Meaning! And I don’t know what to do.
Legion: Have you spoken to your father?
Beel: Of course not! He would shun me. There is no way that he could ever understand.
Legion: You have more in common with him then you could possibly imagine. Tell me, what happened the last time you crossed over?
Beel:… I… I don’t know. I had a plan. An old artist man was struggling with a portrait piece he was commissioned to paint. His hands were not as steady as they once were, and he didn’t have the strength or the energy to finish. So I offered him The Contract. Standard Youth for ten years in exchange for one’s soul. (Legion nods in understanding) It was different though, this time. When he saw me, it’s like he already knew I was there, no, no, not that I was there, but he knew that I would be there. It was like his eyes were always staring at truth that hadn’t been shaped yet. Then, he turned down the deal and offered a counter proposal instead, as Americans will often do. But once again, this was abnormal. He offered his soul in exchange for the ability to finish the artwork beautifully, then he would die, and I would bring him back to hell.
Why would he do that? I don’t get it.
Legion: So, what did you do?
Beel: I granted his wish. I gave him Strength and Inspiration. He finished the work. And then I killed him and took his soul.
Legion: I’m not sure I understand the issue?
Beel: Of course you don’t! No one can.
Legion: Just try explaining it to me. What about this has you so bothered?
Beel: …(sigh) I don’t understand the gifts I gave him. Well, the strength I understand. That’s simple. I’ve given that to others before. Many ask for it. Either that or power. But I also gave him… inspiration. And that is deeply troublesome to me, because I can’t understand it.
Legion: Well, inspiration is a means, a tool if you would, that humans use to continue living their meager and pointless lives. Often inspiration is only considered for something specific, like a wok of art or the passion of love, whereas overall will to live is a better way to describe what keeps humans hopeful and fighting their entire lives. As Angels, or, more appropriately, Demons, we have the ability to give and take this. It helps us in our tasks and duties.
Beel: You say we can give and take it to and from whomever, but that is not true. Unlike strength and power which I can give to any being in abundance, even me, Inspiration and a Will to live Is something that I can only give to others! Or at least, that used to be the case. I’m not sure how, but I fear I am… Inspired.
Legion: What! That’s unbelievable! The will to live was not a gift given to our kind because of our immortality. It was thought to be impossible to have such feelings! Is it a mistake?
Beel: I’ve considered that, so I talked to the old man again.
Legion: How did you find him?
Beel: Actually, he found me. Haphazardly. It happened moments before you arrived. He’s gone now. But he reassured me, this sensation is the will to strive forward and, create. And I want to do that. I’ve decided just now. I want to be an artist! I want to create! But I fear I need your help. (Beat. their eyes lock. Legion chuckles.)
Legion: It seems you follow your father’s footsteps of challenging the nature of our existence. His way of doing things was just much more violent. (beat) Of course I will help you. I can’t very well just let you go insane without a companion. You know, I am a master in other worldly art? I mean… I never created anything; I only have knowledge of it.
Beel: Wonderful! (The mood has changed dramatically. Beel is now bubbly and delighted, while Legion is slightly more reserved.) I have so many Ideas going through my mind! I want to do so much! But I guess, since you are the master, I should ask you the vital question. What is art?
Legion: Hmm. Well art is the assembling of materials to make an image, I suppose. This of course includes sculpture and painting and drawing and the like.
Beel: That can’t be it, it’s too limited. What about the performing arts, like dance and acting?
Legion: I suppose you’re right. Well then Art is simply the assembling of materials to make an image, and Performing.
Beel: But then that assumes all performing is art, whether intended or not, and whether there is ever even an audience.
Legion: Well, maybe that is the case. Art can, hypothetically, happen accidentally and I also suppose it can happen anywhere, even alone.
Beel: So the conclusion is that art is all intentional and accidental assemblages of materials to make images, and all performances, whether for an audience or alone, and whether it is intended or not!
Legion: Not quite, we forgot literature.
Beel: Ah! Literature! Where could that possibly fall?
Legion: Some literature is most definitely artistic and beautiful, but there is also some written word that I don’t think is very nice.
Beel: But should we dismiss something as not being art simply because one disagrees with it? Should not even the smallest of men have interests that may or may not match that of the majority? And if we cannot dismiss them, is it not safe to assume that all written word is art for the fact that words would not exist if there was no one to appreciate them.
Legion: You speak true words old friend! Art Is the assembling of materials to make images, any act of performance, whether there is a crowd or not, and all forms of the written word which any man could find interesting, which we may assume is all works of the word, and all of this may be accidental or completely on purpose!
Beel: And while this definition we have formed is extensive, I fear we are still missing what the key to what art truly is. Oh No! We have neglected Music!
Legion: Damn! Well, it is not too late, and this may be the final piece to the puzzle that is understanding art!
Beel: Thank you for your high spirits, Legion, I would be lost on this journey without you!
Legion: Haha calm down boy, we aren’t done yet!
Beel: Yes! Music is obviously art.
Legion: Obviously, that is not really the question though. The true question is what can be considered music.
Beel: I believe music is just organized sound. Thus all sound made from instruments, that is sung, by man or beast, and that is synthesized by technology is music, and can be considered as such.
Legion: I couldn’t have put it better!
Beel: Then we have our definition! Art is all accidental or planned materials that form an image, any and all performances, whether alone or for others, all forms of the written word, whether literature or article, and all music that is created or assembled in an organized fashion!
Legion: Yes! Now that we have answered that pesky question, we can move on to the creation! I was thinking we could get some paint and you could start by…
Beel: Hold on.
Legion: What’s wrong?
Beel: You must forgive me, but I have not been around since the beginning, and you have, thus you are far wiser, so I was hoping you could answer few more of my questions.
Legion: Of course Beel! I’ve already come this far on the journey; I will help you until the end!
Beel: Thank you. Now, as per our definition, we perceive art as man-made things, am I correct?
Legion: Yes.
Beel: And was not man, and Angel, created by The One God?
Legion: Well, yes that is also true.
Beel: By that logic, Should not all of what The One God created also be considered art? And did not The One God create all things, if not actively then indirectly?
Legion: Yes, and I believe I see where you are going with this!
Beel: Everything on some level, can, and should, be perceived as art! And creating art is doing the work of The One God… Which is what our kind was banished into hell to never be a part of again.
Legion: Sigh. Look. If this is something that you feel a passion for, you are the only one here who could do it because you were not banished; you are not forsaken to this place. It is just where you were born. The One God may have plans for you yet! So my advice is to follow your newfound passion to the end, but this is sadly, where I must disembark from the adventure. The path ahead of you is something that I physically cannot be a part of. I am surprised I came as far as I did. Thank you for the wonderful discussion.
Beel: You don’t have to go! You don’t have to participate! Just follow me!
Legion: Sadly, even that is too much. You need to fulfill your new duty of creation alone... Goodbye Kaiser De Emperana Beelzebub, Son of Kaiser De Emperana Lucifer, you have been a good friend to me.
Beel: Wait!… goodbye Legion.
