OWLFAHC Hall Episode

Abstract

This satirical tragedy of one act stings us in Owlfahc Hall at Campus de Barbarians, when we get to imagine that we are being subjected to a book-reading when that, in fact, is not happening, but rather exposing the degree of the rifts in our own schools. The face cream and the evergreen and the on screen volunteers dig straight out on censorship, how our voices are muted and how the fear machine of the administration is hyped. They make jokes that seem like a strange amalgamation of humor and sadness, it is obvious that the university is showing a show of intellectual buzz but conceals blatant authoritarianism around every corner. In the background, meanwhile, there is a lot of back-and-forth talk which increases the criticism: Prof. Mangru and Prof. Khairu are playing the imitation of the sycophantic culture supposedly buzzing as OWLFAHC (“Organizer Who Loves Flattery And Hates Chivalry”). Then there is a younger couple of Batuk and Kautuki pushing through the straining relationship that is essentially a reflection of how the emotional bondages with the institution hold us together. Meanwhile, two scholarly figures Billy and Nilly sneak in and discuss beauty rituals as though they are the real performances, ridiculing how the university is so preoccupied with empty chatter rather than with actual education. All culminates in a head clash between a heroic Teacher and the Head of the Department. The Head becomes all complacent regarding his patronage connections and how he has undermined merit, and the Teacher defends himself-- screaming that the thing is knowledge and that you cannot put it out with decadence. When the Teacher eventually accuses the fear and flattery in the last act, the entire colonialism air of our academic space actually bursts open, and the scene is concluded with a call of integrity, resistance, and actual intellectual freedom.