Operation Lysistrata
Operation Lysistrata documents how two women transformed their individual aspirations for peace into a movement, which allowed the global community to share in their vision.In January 2003, two women…
Operation Lysistrata
Operation Lysistrata documents how two women transformed their individual aspirations for peace into a movement, which allowed the global community to share in their vision.In January 2003, two women in New York City, Kathryn Blume and Sharron Bower, thought to organize readings of the ancient Greek play Lysistrata, by Aristophanes, as a protest of the imminent preemptive war on Iraq. Originally conceived as a local event, however, over the course of a few weeks, word of the Lysistrata Project quickly gained momentum and became a worldwide happening for peace. On March 3, 2003 over 1,000 simultaneous productions of Lysistrata was performed in 59 countries around the globe. It is uncanny the fluid boundary dividing life and art: Lysistrata, meaning she who disbands the armies is just as relevant in 2003 as in 411 BCE when the play was first produced. Paralleling the fictional comedy, the original Lysistrata was produced during a time when Athens, facing economic, military and social ruin, was on the verge of a revolution. Both the play and the Project are about strong women who organize others in their communities to bring an end to senseless war (or to prevent the start of one in our modern case). Operation Lysistrata is the story of how two women transformed their individual aspirations for peace into a movement, which allowed the global community to share in their vision. The documentary touches on subjects of grassroots activism, conflict resolution, community building and the role of art in a functioning democracy-how these elements combine to empower and engage communities around the world to make a non-violent statement for peace.
Operation Lysistrata
Documentary
Film Details
Operation Lysistrata documents how two women transformed their individual aspirations for peace into a movement, which allowed the global community to share in their vision.In January 2003, two women in New York City, Kathryn Blume and Sharron Bower, thought to organize readings of the ancient Greek play Lysistrata, by Aristophanes, as a protest of the imminent preemptive war on Iraq. Originally conceived as a local event, however, over the course of a few weeks, word of the Lysistrata Project quickly gained momentum and became a worldwide happening for peace. On March 3, 2003 over 1,000 simultaneous productions of Lysistrata was performed in 59 countries around the globe.
It is uncanny the fluid boundary dividing life and art: Lysistrata, meaning she who disbands the armies is just as relevant in 2003 as in 411 BCE when the play was first produced. Paralleling the fictional comedy, the original Lysistrata was produced during a time when Athens, facing economic, military and social ruin, was on the verge of a revolution. Both the play and the Project are about strong women who organize others in their communities to bring an end to senseless war (or to prevent the start of one in our modern case).
Operation Lysistrata is the story of how two women transformed their individual aspirations for peace into a movement, which allowed the global community to share in their vision. The documentary touches on subjects of grassroots activism, conflict resolution, community building and the role of art in a functioning democracy-how these elements combine to empower and engage communities around the world to make a non-violent statement for peace..