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RAT There's nothing wrong with being elitist....



(Well, there are actually a few things wrong with it, esp. if you end up 
making value judgements or sneering at the people who are not in your elite
group, but what the heck)

What I'm trying to say is that it's okay to be an artist for the few rather
than the many, and it's okay to be an artist for the many, too, as long as
your artwork isn't PANDERING to the many.

It's always an aesthetic call about what is "real art" and what is
"pandering art"  Even Kenny G or New Kids on the Block  think that are doing
great and original work, and lo and behold, people value their work in no
small quantity.

I personally value different things in a piece of theatrical artwork then
most other people do.  It doesn't make me better than other people (although
I can say that I'm certainly more knowledgeable) it just makes me unhappier
about the stuff I see.

Most people who go to the Lion King or Cirque du Soleil have the time of
their lives-- it is we few (we unhappy few) that see the flaws in the
diamonds, the slow pacing, the weakness in story, the sure but clear
Disneyfication of worldwide culture, etc.  Most people don't see it, and are
happy to shell out their hard earned (or not so hard earned, sometimes) loot
for these pleasures, and wouldn't pay a fig to see Peter Stein, Augusto
Boal, or the less well known (like you and me) bleed for them on the
pavement.

That's the way of the world.

Signed,

An unpopular artist working in the popular theatre
(which turns out, isn't so popular after all!)

=~=~=~ =~=~=~ =~=~=~ =~=~=~ =~=~=~ =~=~=~ =~=~=~ =~=~=~ =~=~=~
Adam Gertsacov  b.c., c.b., & B.C.
(boss clown, chief bottlewasher, and Big Cheese)
Acme Clown Company
http://www.acmeclown.com  or http://www.trainedfleas.com
adam@acmeclown.com
"damn everything but the circus"  ee cummings
ELECTION T-SHIRTS:  http://www.acmeclown.com/electile.html
ACME CLOWN MONTH:  http://www.acmeclown.com/greenbelt/
=~=~=~ =~=~=~ =~=~=~ =~=~=~ =~=~=~ =~=~=~ =~=~=~ =~=~=~ =~=~=~-

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