In Mel Brooks musical, The Producers a plan is hatched. By putting the worlds worst script into production and embezzling the money raised. “You can make more money with a flop than with a hit” is the spark of this endeavour. The worlds worst script is titled “Springtime for Hitler” a delusional celebration of Hitler and National Socialism.
The joke of The Producers is that the production becomes a hit due to the (accidental) camp/gay characterisation of Hitler. In turn the audience sees it as a satire of National Socialism, it is lauded and the get rich scheme falls flat.
You can read bad art that way. Symbols change and shift. It happens. It still does not change the fact that the artists original intent was poor. What changes is the way it is read. The artist meant it to be read in a certain way. The audience for reasons of their own has changed it. Does this now mean the art is good?
Art Like Us Redeemed?
How a piece is read can redeem it from being bad? Where have I heard this before? How we are read in the light of the grace that comes to us who are in Jesus changes us. We go from being dead to alive. Becoming God’s handiwork redeemed thorough the act of Jesus life death and resurrection.
The audience in The Producers were able to change the context of the symbols, in turn, subverting the artists intent. The symbols of oppression and hate were able to be laughed at. Ridiculed for the foolishness they are. Satire laughs at the powerful. Redemption of the horrors of war and oppression can not be laughed away so easily.
Art is not a person or an event in time, it is a collection of symbols. The symbols put in a new context create a different response, like laughter. Does this redeem national socialism? No. Does it make up for the evil? No. The act of satire is transformational. The transformation being the realisation that, the Emperor has no clothes. We laugh at what is not normally laughed at.
Disturbed or Comfortable?
Art it is said should disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed. The transformation of satire is for the powerless, not the powerful. Subverting the believed parameters of our society, highlighting the struggles of the weak and poor. Unfortunately art is not always used like this.
Without Hitler, Mel Blanc would not have had a career. Satire when used by those who know how to use it is a devastating weapon. It brings the powerful down, highlighting their foolishness and insensitivity. These days it is used ungainly in twitter rants.
The Producers is a weapon from a forgotten age. Back when we could openly laugh at ourselves. Which is rather strange because I think its something we need to regain. If the piece of art presented before you offends and makes you uncomfortable. Before you get offended, make sure you are not the comfortable being disturbed.