Judi Dench on trigger warnings: “If you’re that sensitive, don’t go to the theatre”

nme.com:

Radio Times, Dench was taken aback by the suggestion, asking, “Do they do that? My god, it must be a pretty long trigger warning before King Lear or Titus Andronicus.”“I can see why they exist, but if you’re that sensitive, don’t go to the theatre, because you could be very shocked,” she added. “Where is the surprise of seeing and understanding it in your own way?”Other artists have shared similar sentiments on the subject, including Quentin Tarantino, who said that he does not see the need to accommodate viewers that may be offended by films.“I reject the word ‘offended’.

Anyone can be offended by anything. Frankly, I think most of the time – and there are no doubt some exceptions – saying that you are ‘offended’ by a film is the first response of a very narrow mind. ‘I didn’t like it, and here’s why, blah blah blah…’“But, man, being offended?

Art is no offence. And, although, in rare cases, I can understand it, it’s just ridiculous to be offended by the content of a film.”In other Judi Dench news, she spoke last year about her struggles with age-related macular degeneration, which she said has meant that she can no longer “see on a film set anymore”.The Oscar-winning actress, who is 89, revealed her diagnosis in 2012 for the condition, which affects the middle part of a person’s vision.

She had previously said that it had now become “impossible” to read scripts.“I can’t see on a film set anymore,” she said. “And I can’t see to read.