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I agree. I think that if you're being
true to your own artistic bent, then you are not pandering--whether that bent is
to be a member of the Backstreet Boys or to be Laurie
Anderson.
I personally think it's more "elitist" to
produce one's art based merely on what you think the public wants than
to produce work that you believe in and are excited about. You are then
talking down to the audience rather than trusting them.
Is Jackson Pollack an elitist because he didn't
sell portraits in the mall?
Thinking lately about Artaud's point in "No
more masterpieces" that art and theatre must be products of their age and
not moldy musty masterpieces that anyone of culture and education feels they
must go to see and yet which no one actually enjoys anymore. ("Watch this--it's
good for you.")
When we are all octagenarians, what we thought
was cutting edge theatre or entertainment in 2001 may be ridiculed by upstart
young elitist theatre practitioners.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2001 9:22
AM
Subject: 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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