What Eurovision Means for Jews |
The recent Eurovision show happened exactly as expected – with bitter condemnation, public outcry, and outlandish criticism of Israel’s participation in a euro-musical show it has been a part of since 1973. What better way to express what some would say is legitimate political criticism and mass-level boycotting than a concert filled with half-nude singing and dancing Europeans? After all, what is Eurovision without the decrying of its an exclusive all-European event (the Australians would agree) to celebrate the truly rich and pervasive cultural hegemony that exists within the continent (which has not been eroded at all within recent years).
Yet, despite its supposed apolitical stance, Eurovision has now more than ever shown us that even a show about the musically and theatrically inclined, at its core, is a political stage that represents the global dilemmas and most prevalent policy and international relations issues (yes, really). “All the world’s a stage,” Shakespeare famously said, and “And all the men and women merely players.” In this case, the participants of Eurovision are representative........