A Page from Our Archives: Understanding Queer History in Georgia at Kennesaw State
Disciplines
Arts and Humanities | Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication | History of Gender | Social Justice | Theatre and Performance Studies
Abstract (300 words maximum)
In 1993, the play “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” was performed in Cobb County’s Marietta Theatre in the Square. The play contained themes of homosexuality, prejudice, and the fear of the HIV virus. The play became highly contentious, and it became the center of a countywide debate on whether the arts should continue to be funded. Eventually, on August 10, 1993, the Board of Commissioners decided to cut all funding for the arts in Cobb County. Our research aims to make a cohesive timeline leading to the eventual defunding of the arts, while also trying to find key people within this major debate. By finding these important people and understanding how each event transpired we can consider how censorship of the arts happens and how it effects local art communities and the LGBT community. With this information we can have a stronger awareness of the censorship of art today. The research strategies we have used are an investigative approach and thorough analysis. All data has been collected through archival newspaper clippings, broadcast reports, and the theatre’s archives. Our goal as undergraduates is to strengthen our understanding of research projects, while learning more about the history of the County we study in. The research provides us with new context over the censorship of art and will allow us to better combat this suppression of artistic freedoms.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - English
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Kurt Milberger
A Page from Our Archives: Understanding Queer History in Georgia at Kennesaw State
In 1993, the play “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” was performed in Cobb County’s Marietta Theatre in the Square. The play contained themes of homosexuality, prejudice, and the fear of the HIV virus. The play became highly contentious, and it became the center of a countywide debate on whether the arts should continue to be funded. Eventually, on August 10, 1993, the Board of Commissioners decided to cut all funding for the arts in Cobb County. Our research aims to make a cohesive timeline leading to the eventual defunding of the arts, while also trying to find key people within this major debate. By finding these important people and understanding how each event transpired we can consider how censorship of the arts happens and how it effects local art communities and the LGBT community. With this information we can have a stronger awareness of the censorship of art today. The research strategies we have used are an investigative approach and thorough analysis. All data has been collected through archival newspaper clippings, broadcast reports, and the theatre’s archives. Our goal as undergraduates is to strengthen our understanding of research projects, while learning more about the history of the County we study in. The research provides us with new context over the censorship of art and will allow us to better combat this suppression of artistic freedoms.