Re: RAT solipsism/vanity

[Rebecca Gray <smith@avn.com>]

>Here's another exhortation:  what about the radical idea of artists actually
>getting involved in the community?  I'm not talking about going with your

oh sister, this is the way. YES hallelujah AMEN. how overburdened is it,
however, with righteousness? with [white] guilt? with the self-importance
of being the savior, the Show-er of the Way to the masses?
Do you know Cornerstone The Co, Donna?
I been in L.A. five years; I saw an interactive project they did in Watts
(Do you need clarification, Watts?) early on, and it has been the measure
for me ever after.
It was called The Central Ave. Chalk Circle; per their M.O. cornerstone
reworks a socialconscience classic (lotsa brecht) within the paradigm of
their current geography
I wept for 20 minutes after that show
just joy, just for joy
like at midnite mass when you han't been to church for a spell or are not
religious; do you know this feeling, of being a human among humans, of
being Part of the Whole, of Singing Together, my goodness I'm getting
verklempt--
*wiping tear*
anyways, really, this was profound, this watts show. this was Theater. It
was the Matrix. It was core creation.
>I'm convinced that theatre artists get frustrated with the lack of
>understanding in the community, and respond by only talking to each other.
>We are so good at wiping each other's noses and shaking our sympathetic
>heads in communal disgust.  If we spent some time with non-theatrical
>institutions within the community, I wonder what would happen to our work?

but

>>ENTERFUCKINGTAINMENT? WHAT'S SO WRONG with entertainment???!!!!)
>>(a world that deserves entertainment)>>
?
there's room enuff for a laff or two

*****
in this vein

>>the money encourages commoditization = commercialization = sell out (hmm)
>>BUT THERE ARE TWO SIDES to the coin, ain't that the saw

I am conflicted here. A lot of this's devil's advocacy (+ I don't like the
burden of shame, my desire to be paid a living wage for what I do; HEY I
put a lot of time and dollars down to learn how to do what I do. What's
wrong with recompense shewhinesdefensively)...
I recently saw a Big (Not Cheap) Theater Show in L.A. (here), a
wonderfully-acted anachronism, a boring, long treatise on beauracracy and
bigbrotherhood bouyed up by lots of MONEY. Uh, and did I mention the
acting? Its author, a humanist laureate. The venue, desireable. Respected.
What do we do with this? Hurray it was written and timely in the early '60s
(hurray for the early '60s!!!!) BUT
Nite after nite patrons emptied seats at intermission, fell asleep where
they sat, disappointed. SURPRISED!!! in their disappointment. And what a
trap! How they were set up! The press CREAMED all over this production;
right and left Those Who Are Supposed To Know proclaimed it the Best Show
of the Year!
Garbage. GARBAGE. And what was the root of all evil here? MONEY that bought
the great actors MONEY the highly-respected venue the press claws at the
doors to get into MONEY the subscribers MONEY the advertising MONEY. To
Blame.
(yeah i want my two hours and forty minutes BACK)