The Speakeasy

This painting was initially inspired by a clip I saw of the comedian and activist Dick Gregory on stage for one of his stand ups. It was shown as part of a conversation that was had on the topic of censorship and how, that has, in time evolved and affected comedy and peoples perceptions and boundaries towards it. In the clip you see him very relaxed while smoking a cigar guiding his audience through a stroll down what would now be seen as a very testing path. Having been not so familiar with his work I decided to watch some of his stand ups and found it interesting to see how, in a time so prejudiced towards a man of his colour he seemed so à l’aise with what now would be seen through the eyes of some as potentially offensive or ignorant material. But the room in which he stood in felt no tension or animosity and there was no feeling of defensiveness or ill will. It made me realise how quickly we’ve adjusted the lines that are drawn to keep us from stepping out of line. But through the magnifying lens of the internet the world has rapidly transformed into a stage with every person being the protagonist of their own story and each spectator or passerby being a critic who’s standards with time have become and continue to become increasingly harder to read/meet.

In the era of the prohibition, in the States, the concept of Speakeasies were birthed and spread rapidly creating a door to an underworld of the forbidden. I’m fascinated by the idea behind having a space where, in a sense anything goes from the moment you step your foot through those doors you and everyone there are bound by a bond that could only be broken if willing to also burden yourself with the consequences. No matter where your thoughts and opinions might align everyone in that room share one common truth that each are daring enough to gamble on, in a room full of strangers, how far beyond the line of societies moral compass they are willing to traverse. I’d assume there’s a certain level of comfortability and transparency with the conversations that would find themselves dancing from person to person round a smoke filled room fuelled with jazz and unapologetic banter. Not to say that in an era so full of societal and economical Issues that these problems all magically disappeared when entering but it offered/ allured you with the luxury to unarm yourself for just a few moments without the threat of any ramifications.  

Now, I feel we find ourselves in a time where the words we choose to stand behind, though to us might seem momentary, to the rest of the world they are as permanent as an unbreakable seal. The digital age has meant that no thought or opinion escapes unseen/ unscrutinised. In a time where the boundaries at each side of the idea of freedom of speech is constantly being questioned and readjusted. It’s become an ideal increasingly complex to follow and understand. if it is free then who draws the line that marks the limits to where this space of freedom might end and who decides on the consequences and their severities?