Bruce Bechdel and the loaf of bread- Page 2

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 12:30pm

When reading the graphic memoir years ago, I recall getting the impression that Alison Bechdel’s stance on whether her father committed suicide was still very much up in the air. But, in recent interviews with Bechdel, I’ve gotten the sense that she has now taken the stance that she does, in fact, believe it was a suicide.

If I can recall, the only times we hear it being said in the musical that Bruce killed himself is from Alison herself. With real-life Alison’s (seemingly) set belief that that is what truly happened, it makes sense that they would have character-Alison take this stance in the musical (especially because we are seeing these events through her memories).

That being said, they do still leave some question open in the musical as to whether or not it officially is a suicide. I, in particular, find his lyric “Why am I standing here?” in his final song to be particularly interesting and a really great way to handle the ambiguity of his death. That line can be interpreted in so many different ways and raises the question of whether he meant to do it, if he intended to do it and then jumped back at the last second (but still too late), if he really didn’t realize at all what he was doing, etc.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 12:34pm

And the musical is written seductively enough that by the time the show is ending you may have forgotten what a character said about the fate of another and be more surprised than you might think by what transpires.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 12:40pm

Huh? What? Que?

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 1:39pm

"And Everlast85, if you are going to call someone an "obnoxious asshole" on this board for any reason, you do not belong here. "

Says the dude that started a thread looking for why Alexandra Socha left the production, then proceeded to tell people to "F*CK themselves" and we were "pathetic, soft queens" for informing you that wasn't any of your business.

100% agree with Everlast.

Regarding this thread, people who haven't seen the musical, listened to the recording, or read the graphic novel might think it is a spoiler, and some people want to go into the show this Spring with no knowledge of the material.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 1:42pm

Regarding this thread, people who haven't seen the musical, listened to the recording, or read the graphic novel might think it is a spoiler, and some people want to go into the show this Spring with no knowledge of the material.

Well that's just too damned bad for them now, isn't it?

The Distinctive Baritone, a long time poster on this board DID NOT deserve to be called an assHole.

Updated On: 12/30/14 at 01:42 PM

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 1:51pm

Well...for people who have wanted to avoid threads on FUN HOME so as to go in fresh to the experience, I can see why putting 'Bruce Bechdel suicide' as the title of the post can be considered spoilery. I, personally, would have not used that title because people can't avoid the title of threads. I agree that not too much is spoiled...but I still wouldn't have wanted to be the one to spoil even that small bit of information.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 1:54pm

"I, personally, would have not used that title because people can't avoid the title of threads."

Exactly.

[blaxx]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 1:54pm

But the reason of the death is not relevant to the show, and the death is in the premise.

I still don't think it is a spoiler.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 1:59pm

Me neither.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 2:24pm

Me three-ser

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 2:33pm

I don't necessarily agree that the reason for the death is irrelevant. The death and its murkiness are the inciting incident for Allison to examine both her life and her relationship with her father. I agree that it's not that much of a spoiler...but for people who wanted to go in knowing as little as possible (and there are people like that in the world), I still wouldn't have put this bit of information in the title of the thread.

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 2:41pm

For my two cents, I’d also argue that if someone recognized the name “Bechdel” from the thread title, that person probably already knows enough to know that the musical/graphic memoir discusses a woman who’s dad (possibly) killed himself, seeing as nearly any general discussion/article of the musical, book, or Alison herself is quick to mention this as part of the plot description.

If they were truly going into the show cold, without any prior knowledge, they likely wouldn’t even recognize the name in the thread title and, therefore, it wouldn’t mean anything to them. If they do recognize it, then it’s likely they already know this bit of information.

[South Florida]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 2:47pm

The only part I find a little confusing and perhaps you guys can help me out is the letter before the end. "Dear Al", I don't have the book anymore, but I don't remember that letter being part of the book. Did she receive a letter from her father after their last visit? That song sounds like he is desperate in the letter, if there was one.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 2:47pm

Robbie, the entire premise is based on his death. The press releases mention it, as do many other promotional materials and online resources. It is a part of the storyline. As long as someone even reads the tiniest bit of background on a show (and I assume they have to, like, read about it on TicketMaster or visit the show's website), this element of the story is almost always revealed.... There is no way to avoid it, unless you go down a list of show titles and randomly pick the name "Fun Home." And then proceed to buy tickets. Without reading a single thing on it. I mean, that's gotta be about .001% of the ticket buying population.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 2:50pm

Perhaps you're assuming way too much in how people think. I don't find it implausible that someone would know that FUN HOME was based on a work created by Alison Bechdel but not know the extent of it. I knew who Bechdel was from Dykes to Watch Out For and, of course, The Bechdel Test...but I knew very little about FUN HOME going into it...just that it was adapted by the extraordinary Tesori and Kron. That was more than enough for me to buy a ticket to see the show. I did read some of the reviews and discovered more of what the show was about, and no...they didn't ruin anything for me. But I sought out those reviews on my own. That was my choice. Seeing a plot point (no matter how minor...and I don't think this is minor) in the title of a thread can be a bit annoying to people. It wasn't their choice to seek out that information. And how are they to know what is an important spoiler and one that isn't? Should they just take our word for it? Or should they be able to discover the show how they choose to discover it?

I think all bets are off once inside a thread. But not with the thread title.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 2:53pm

I guess I just have trouble pointing the finger at the OP, when all press releases and promotional materials practically start out each boilerplate title/property description with mentioning the father's death.

Perhaps he could have simply left out the third and final word of the thread title.

Updated On: 12/30/14 at 02:53 PM

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 2:56pm

I didn't call the OP any name. I'm simply suggesting that putting a plot point in TITLE of a thread is something that can and should be easily avoided.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 2:58pm

Guys, I alreasy changed the title of the thread. Can we move on now? Thank you to those who defended me, and apologies to anyone I upset. Except you, Sutton Ross. You're a miserable human being.

ANYWAY...back to my original question...does anyone know if he was holding the weeds when he got hit? And how is the moment staged? I won't be able to see the show until June. (You might want to write "spoiler alert" in your reply, as to avoid people jumping down your throat...

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 2:58pm

The Abscessory did call people who had trouble with the original post, "cry babies", however

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 3:00pm

I have a problem with the reaction of some of the board members. He didn't deserve to be called an assHole.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 3:04pm

For the record, I was called an asshole, which wasn't deserved or appropriate for this board.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 3:04pm

Of course he didn't! And it's good that you changed the title, Bari...I was just trying to offer less invested perspective on this.

And to answer your question...we don't know how the moment is staged because the entire show will have to be drastically restaged to the in-the-round set-up of Circle. So the staging will be a surprise to all who are going to be seeing it in the spring.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 3:14pm

Thanks, Robbie. I can't wait to see it. And Everlast85 was the one who called me a name, not you.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 3:19pm

The argument regarding spoilers reminds me of an episode of Community where Abed is reminded that real life does not have spoilers. And because Bruce Bechdel is a person from real life, his death isn't a spoiler.

Furthermore, when I first saw of the musical last spring and bought the album I had literally no clue what it was about, had never heard of Allison Bechdel and wasn't familiar with her work. In fact, when I saw this thread, I'd totally forgotten that her father's name was Bruce and was surprised at the hostility involved at the onset of the thread. It seems like overreacting to a non-existent spoiler.

I read the book Fun Home last summer, and it definitely seemed to me like he killed himself (although in a very strange way). I also liked that the lesbian UPS delivery lady was there with all her swagger.

[tazber]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 3:23pm

"Did Bruce Bechdel commit suicide" is the new "Was Leo Frank really innocent".