By
Shaun Clayton
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Homecoming is here again. It is a time of celebration for anybody who happens to support the University of Arizona athletics department, but for others, such as the artistically inclined, it is a non-event.
The Mirriam-Webster dictionary defines the word "homecoming" as the following:
1 : a return home
2 : the return of a group of people usually on a special occasion to a place formerly frequented or regarded as home; especially : an annual celebration for alumni at a college or university
So, technically, "homecoming" could be for any group on campus that leaves and comes back. There could be a homecoming for the theater department's Touring Shakespeare group, an ensemble in the School of Music and Dance or any student group with the Associated Students.
However, the likelihood of that happening is about the same as Ralph Nader becoming CEO of Microsoft - after changing his sex and insisting on being called "Ralphina, Queen of Greens."
The whole reason a non-sports affiliated campus group would get a homecoming is based on a little thing called "tradition."
A long time ago, somebody decided to have a big welcome home celebration for the touring sports team - maybe to snap them out of their amnesia after committing numerous acts of violence in an attempt to move a ball from point A to point B. In any case, it became such a popular idea that nobody questions why it even exists - which comes as no surprise.
In this country, violent acts are a dime a dozen, and for Americans to desire violent entertainment seems natural. In fact, the various arts around campus might have a chance of getting their own homecomings if only they would add more violence to their touring shows:
SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY! SEE the Devils of Declension, the Bardic Bashers, the Ivan the Terribles of Iambic Pentameter as they CRUSH, BEAT and THROW their way through William "The Stud of Avon" Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" - NO HOLDS BARRED!
SEE Puck lay the smack down on Oberon! WITNESS the Titanium Titania in a steel cage stage match against Hippolyta the Amazing Amazon! WATCH IN AWE as King Theseus makes them all want to run for their stagehands!
Coming back from their winning streak where they recently put the fire out of the Arizona State University Drama Devils in the Crushing Contest Comedy of Errors, this homecoming Touring Shakespeare show will be one you CAN NOT MISS!
Theater arts - we'll sell you the whole seat, but you'll only need THE EDGE!
