Challenged by the actors of the movie “Xaparthenon”: “We did it because that’s how we like it” | HELLAS
The actors of the short film entitled “Xaparthenon” appear provocative, which has caused a stir with its content.
The film -among other things- shows two of the protagonists, a couple of gay men, having sex on the Sacred Rock of the Acropolis, while it is open to the public and full of tourists, while the other participants cover the situation, pretending to pull . photos.
This video, which was also shown at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, has provoked strong reactions, as the creators, in the accompanying text -among all others- characterize the Parthenon aggressively charged with heteronormal and nationalist values.
The script and the controversial scenes on the Acropolis
The presentation of the film took place on 16/12 at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and, according to the script, a couple of men, who have divorced, go up to the Acropolis to find each other again. Their friends say they need to find each other again and the two men admit that they are in love, have sex and the others form a human chain around them. As the shot leaves the two men, the camera gets up and shows the Acropolis.
The film is an independent production. It will be open on the internet for all individuals, groups and sites interested in doing and promoting.
“Unmarried”: The explanations of the actors for the content of the film
In fact, on December 23, they published a lengthy post, in which they tried to explain some things about the film, but provocatively clarified that “in response to all the why at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of the explanations that can be given . , there is always this: because that’s how we taste “.
This accompanying text of the short film “Unmarried” * will give some explanations about it. It often causes inconvenience when a project requires explanations to stand, but there is no estimate that this project will provoke public reactions. So, if he wants to have a public address, it is good to be supported by a reason that clarifies who he is. In essence, they are not so much explanations as the very perspective of the contributors and contributors.
In general, as an answer to all the why at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of the explanations, which can not be given, there is always this: because this is how we like it. From here, things get trickier, and this is where the true love affair comes in! When it comes to love between two or three or more men or women, first of all, let us ask ourselves what is a man, a woman, and if there are sexes, to what extent they have natural or acquired characteristics, but this discussion goes beyond them. purpose of this text.
In any case, this type of sexuality is of interest to us in this work as actors and we project it. In a way that, with the means at our disposal, we express some of what we want to live or that we live or that we are worried about as we live them. We choose public address, not just to share our experiences. Some of us accept physical and verbal violence for our choices and expressions of sexuality, while we know that there are people who are murdered and / or imprisoned because they have what others call deviant sexuality. From children – usually boys who can not find a place to stand, when their classmates decided they are sisters, to the wood, the marginalization or even the stabbings from which many and especially groups such as trans women suffer. We do not stand idly by in all this. As a result of this small movement a voice that no one and no one is alone, we will live love and sexuality as we wish and we will defend the public existence, but also coexistence, of all sexualities that do not violate the self-disposition of our bodies.
We can not overlook the role of patriarchy in all these problems. For example, look at the model of the life of an aggressive male family man – which can also be reflected by women – who does not tolerate being touched or sensitive and must dominate anyone else whether they are a woman or a “feminine” man or a colleague not competitive enough, and flattens out what challenges his worldview whether this name is homosexuality or polygamy and so on. This is not to say that competitiveness or violence or the family or our other institutional contexts, such as the workplace, have only negative elements, although as we have seen in the patriarchal context, they are fundamentally toxic. And, of course, we can not help but look at the equation of the connection between patriarchy, family and nation. The problem again is not the people who live in a place and have some characteristics that unite them, such as language or manners, customs and so on. But when they acquire as a national organism a toxic masculine behavior wanting to dominate and level them.
That is why the choice of the Parthenon as a place is not accidental. It functions for many as a symbol of nationalism, archeology, patriarchy, commercialization, mass culture and decency among others. Suppose there is a linguistic, genetic, cultural connection of the young with the ancient Greeks, even after all the peoples who have passed through this place. Then, then, the reactions of some archaic masculine types to what they call homosexuality acquire a comic interest, at the same time that at Plato’s banquet there is a scene with a love quarrel between Socrates and Alcibiades, for example. Thus, on the occasion of the two hundredth anniversary of the Greek revolution of 1821, we present you a nice way to give some nice meanings – some inspired by the past of others and others by us – and contents in important parts of this place.
It would be wrong, however, not to believe that the purpose of the film is as much a reaction as, basically, the desire and the need to live the way we want. We do not see anything strange or unnatural in what we do. For us it is the normal evolution of our carefree flow. Sensuality – let’s not forget the ancient Greek sensuality and ecstasy, the statues were not white, they had many and bright colors and designs – the contact, the correlation between human bodies regardless of various characteristics either private or public . We seek them. Especially now that we are living in confinement, the disconnection of human relationships, the transfer of our relationships to imaginary and cerebral worlds behind screens, depriving us of sensory integration, essential communication and coexistence as a whole.
The Parthenon is a beautiful place to make love, do not forget the view (we made sure in our most beautiful moments to be away from the concrete corridor), while each place acquires greater value when it comes alive with the pulsating human presence. After all, this is the desire, the mentality and the experience of our protagonists. Of course, we will not hide the part of the excess. The beauty of doing something that needs to go beyond your limits, this condition for the continuation of life and self-realization. Nor that we may be bored with the routine, isolation and death statistics from coronavirus and seek adventure, experimentation, orgasm and companionship, because all this is not set up without companionship. That is, having sex in a crowded public place with security guards and cameras and no one seeing you so that you do not have problems, even though the legal is not necessarily moral.
We wish to do this work as much as or more than we create it and -especially younger friends who are so intimidated- to feel that what seems unthinkable may not be .
Outraged Spyros Bibilas: Stupid and immoral so-called revolutionary acts
The beloved actor Spyros Bibilas and president of the Association of Greek Actors expresses his personal opinion on the subject, speaking to iefimerida.gr.
“It is unacceptable. Every Greek citizen realizes that not everyone can use the Holy Rock of the Acropolis for so-called activist activities and revolutionary acts, which in fact are both stupid and immoral. We can not shoot such clips in the Sacred Rock. “Could such scenes be filmed in a church?” He wonders.
“She was sent to me and I saw her. I just saw her. We do not know who made it, nor who are the participants or anything. If they claim that this film is an activist act, the best they can do is not look in the mirror. They can support whatever they want, but no one covers them legally. And I can claim to be on Mars. I am; I am not “, says Sp. Bibilas.
Ministry of Culture: “No shooting permit was given”
The Ministry of Culture clarified in a statement that it has not given any permission and that “the archaeological site of the Acropolis is not suitable for any kind of activist or other activity, which insults and behaves disrespectfully to the monument.” He also announced the conduct of a preliminary examination.
Asked by reporters about videos of scenes that were illegally filmed at the archeological site of the Acropolis, the Press Office of the Ministry of Culture and Sports clarified in an announcement the following:
“Obviously, no permission has been given for the specific scenes by the competent services of the Ministry of Culture and Sports. The archeological site of the Acropolis is not suitable for any kind of activist or other activity, which offends and behaves in the monument.
By order of the Ministry of Culture and Sports to the Head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Athens, a preliminary examination is carried out, according to what is provided in the Code of Civil Servants, in order to investigate the circumstances of the incident and assign responsibilities. reported on.