*They clasp hands, not in total agreement, but in mutual respect.* Indeed, a good ending.
On Sun, Feb 16, 2025 at 12:09 AM Ernest Prabhakar < [email protected]> wrote: > > https://radicalcentrism.org/2025/02/15/woked-the-musical/ > > WOKED: The Musical > > > > > January 27, 2024 > > Write the musical WOKED, a spoof of Wicked with male characters. Make E a > right-wing reactionary, and G politically correct. Ensure a redemptive > ending for both. > ChatGPT Prompt > > ------------------------------ > *Characters* > > - *Ethan “E” Thornwell (a.k.a. “The Canceled One”)* – A quick-witted, > deeply contrarian conservative student who rails against political > correctness, wokeness, and the “death of Western civilization.” Over the > course of the story, he realizes that his provocations have unintended > consequences. > - *Gabe “G” Lightman (a.k.a. “The Righteous One”)* – A progressive > golden boy who believes in the absolute necessity of social justice. He > starts off as a self-righteous enforcer of political correctness but > gradually learns that people are more complex than their worst opinions. > - *Dean Ozborne* – A university dean who changes policies based on > whatever is least controversial at the moment. He tries to keep donations > flowing while pretending to be a moral leader. > - *The Internet (“The Mob”)* – A faceless, ever-present chorus > representing online outrage. They build up ideological heroes only to > destroy them at the first misstep. > - *Felix De León (a.k.a. “Brogressive”)* – A charming but hypocritical > social justice activist who knows all the right buzzwords but isn’t willing > to put in the work. > - *Dr. Morrible* – A radical professor who pushes students toward > extremes, mentoring E into reactionary politics while grooming G into a > ruthless enforcer of ideological purity. > - *Boq (a.k.a. “The Troll”)* – A nihilistic student who enjoys > stirring up online drama and watches both sides tear each other apart for > sport. > > ------------------------------ > *Act I: The Firebrand and the Enforcer* *Opening Number: “No One Is Safe”* > > - Students sing about how one wrong word, one outdated opinion, or one > tweet from ten years ago can destroy their reputation. > - E and G are introduced as ideological rivals. E ridicules “woke > nonsense,” while G preaches about the importance of progress and justice. > > *Scene: The Debate (“Trigger vs. Traditions”)* > > - A heated class debate between E and G escalates into a campus-wide > spectacle. > - G insists that words are violence, while E argues that free speech > is under attack. > - Their professor, Dr. Morrible, stokes their rivalry for her own > amusement. > > *Song: “Cancel Me Softly” (E’s Solo)* > > - E realizes that his defiant attitude has made him a target. He sees > himself as a martyr, but his reckless words begin to backfire. > > *Scene: The Protest (“We Will Deplatform You”)* > > - G leads a protest against a controversial speaker. E attends in > defiance. > - Things spiral out of control, and E is caught in a viral moment that > brands him as a campus pariah. > > ------------------------------ > *Act II: The Canceled and the Crusader* *Opening Number: “Hashtag > Villain”* > > - The internet chorus turns on E, taking joy in his downfall. > - G basks in victory but begins to see cracks in his own ideology as > some of his allies turn on him for past “problematic” behavior. > > *Song: “What If I’m Wrong?” (G’s Crisis)* > > - G questions whether he’s truly making the world better or just > enforcing a new kind of dogma. > > *Scene: The Reckoning (“Public Apology Bingo”)* > > - E is forced into a public tribunal where he must either repent or be > permanently exiled. > - Instead of apologizing, he sings *“Defying Outrage,”* claiming he > won’t bow to the mob. > - The backlash is swift, and G, who once led the charge against him, > starts feeling uneasy about the destruction of his rival. > > *Finale: “Redemption is Woke”* > > - E and G, now both outcasts in different ways, find themselves in an > unexpected conversation. > - They realize they both became pawns in a bigger game and that > neither ideology has a monopoly on truth. > - The show ends with the two of them walking off together—not in > perfect agreement, but in mutual understanding. > > ------------------------------ > *Themes & Satirical Targets* > > - *The Weaponization of Ideology* – How both reactionaries and > progressives can become prisoners of their own dogma. > - *The Fragility of Online Identity* – How quickly the internet builds > people up only to tear them down. > - *The Myth of Moral Purity* – How no one is truly “pure” by the > impossible standards of any ideology. > - *Redemption and Understanding* – The idea that genuine dialogue is > possible, even in a world that discourages it. > > ------------------------------ > *Reflections* > > *WOKED* is a satirical musical that follows two college students on > opposite ends of the ideological spectrum. *Ethan “E” Thornwell*, a > sharp-tongued reactionary who longs for a return to “traditional values,” > and *Gabe “G” Lightman*, a politically correct golden boy who sees > himself as the moral compass of the university. Their clashing worldviews > lead to campus-wide chaos, cancelation, and ultimately, an unexpected > redemption for both. > > Set on a modern university campus where ideas are currency and reputations > are fragile, the show explores the absurdities of ideological purity, the > performativity of social justice and reactionary politics, and the > possibility of genuine understanding in a divided world. > > *WOKED* is a satirical but ultimately hopeful musical that suggests > redemption is possible—even in the most polarized times. While it pokes fun > at both ideological extremes, it ends with a call for understanding over > outrage. > ------------------------------ > *Lyrics: Defying Outrage / Reprise* *“Defying Outrage”* > > *(Sung by Ethan “E” Thornwell as he refuses to apologize in a public > tribunal, knowing full well the consequences. The Internet Mob chants in > the background, demanding his repentance.)* > *[Verse 1]* > > *(E steps forward, facing the tribunal, defiant yet aware of the storm > ahead.)* > > I used to think the world was free, > That speech was meant for you and me, > But now I see the rules have changed, > One wrong word and you’re deranged. > > *(The Internet Mob whispers, growing louder: “Apologize! Retract! > Repent!”)* > > They tell me bow, they tell me kneel, > Confess my sins, embrace their zeal, > But I won’t play their little game, > No hashtags gonna change my name! > ------------------------------ > *[Pre-Chorus]* > > *(E turns to the crowd, half-mocking, half-tragic.)* > > Too late to edit what I said, > Too late to try and make amends, > They don’t want growth, they want control, > But I won’t break, I won’t be sold! > ------------------------------ > *[Chorus]* > > *(E stands on a table, raising his arms as the music swells.)* > > I’m *defying outrage!* > I won’t beg for your applause! > I’m *defying outrage!* > Go ahead, rewrite my flaws! > > *(The Mob chants louder, flashing phone screens and tweets appearing in > the background.)* > > If I must burn, then let it be, > At least I’ll stand for what is *me!* > ------------------------------ > *[Verse 2]* > > *(E paces, contemplating his past statements, knowing there’s no way back > now.)* > > I wasn’t perfect, I made mistakes, > But growth’s a crime that truth forsakes. > They say, “You’re out, you’ve had your turn!” > But who decides who gets to learn? > > *(The tribunal chairperson rises, shaking their head. G, watching from the > sidelines, looks conflicted.)* > ------------------------------ > *[Bridge]* > > *(E looks at G, a final plea for understanding.)* > > G, I know you think you’re right, > But don’t you see, this game’s too tight? > Today it’s me, tomorrow *you*, > They’ll find a sin to cancel *too!* > > *(G hesitates, glancing at the Mob, then back at E.)* > ------------------------------ > *[Final Chorus]* > > *(E stands tall as the music reaches its climax.)* > > I’m *defying outrage!* > I won’t beg to stay alive! > I’m *defying outrage!* > Even villains can survive! > > *(The Mob reaches for him, their voices deafening.)* > > If standing tall means standing *wrong*, > Then let me go, I’ll die *strong!* > > *(Music swells, the Mob’s voices rise, and the lights cut to black.)* > ------------------------------ > *“Defying Outrage (Reprise)”* > > *(Sung by Ethan “E” Thornwell and Gabe “G” Lightman in the finale, as they > reconcile and reject the extremes that once defined them. The Internet Mob > watches, confused and uncertain, as their heroes refuse to play their > assigned roles.)* > *[Verse 1: E]* > > *(E, standing on the outskirts of campus, weary but wiser.)* > > I fought so hard, I stood alone, > Turned every fight into a throne, > But all that rage, all that spite, > Never made the world more right. > > *(G steps forward, hesitant but changed, no longer the righteous > enforcer.)* > ------------------------------ > *[Verse 2: G]* > > *(G, finally questioning his old certainties.)* > > I thought the rules were clear as day, > That every sin had just one way, > But in this game of keep or kill, > Who’s the judge, and what is real? > > *(They look at each other, once bitter enemies, now something > else—something more human.)* > ------------------------------ > *[Pre-Chorus: Both]* > > *(They step forward, facing the Mob, who now murmurs in confusion.)* > > It’s not too late, it’s not too soon, > To break the script, to change the tune, > Not every fight is won by war, > Not every loss means less or more. > ------------------------------ > *[Chorus: Both]* > > *(The music swells, echoing the original anthem but with a softer, more > resolute energy.)* > > We’re *defying outrage!* > We won’t play their perfect roles! > We’re *defying outrage!* > We are more than tweets and polls! > > *(The Mob hesitates—some lowering their phones, some still holding on to > their anger, unsure how to react.)* > > If standing proud means standing wrong, > Then let us stand where we belong! > ------------------------------ > *[Bridge: E & G in Harmony]* > > *(They turn to the audience, a final reflection.)* > > E: They cheered me when I played the foe, > G: They praised me when I cast the stone, > E: But neither side will ever win, > G: If no one learns, if no one bends. > > *(They step forward, together.)* > ------------------------------ > *[Final Chorus: Both]* > > *(The music swells one last time, triumphant but thoughtful.)* > > We’re *defying outrage!* > Not just villains, not just saints! > We’re *defying outrage!* > It’s not that simple, black and white paints! > > *(The Mob slowly disperses, some clinging to their old roles, others > walking away, changed.)* > > If truth can breathe, if change can grow, > Then maybe grace is what we owe. > > *(They clasp hands, not in total agreement, but in mutual respect. The > lights fade to black.)* > ------------------------------ > *[Final Note]* > > *(The curtain falls as the audience is left with the question: What > happens when the outrage machine has no villains left to consume? Can a > world built on division learn to heal? The silence lingers before the > applause.)* > > Sent from my iPhone > > -- > -- > Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community < > [email protected]> > Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism > Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org > > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/RadicalCentrism/543E8380-BE3C-437A-AEF4-B67F07335CB1%40gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/RadicalCentrism/543E8380-BE3C-437A-AEF4-B67F07335CB1%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/RadicalCentrism/CACB%2BEVd3iOYWWL8j91Z5vgqdjN-0EwteG%3DZ6Ebx5YknUKbCcNw%40mail.gmail.com.
