Re: RAT solipsism/vanity

["Donna Sherritt" <ohbelladonna@hotmail.com>]

with [white] guilt? How do you know I'm white?

donna


>From: Rebecca Gray <smith@avn.com>
>Reply-To: rat-list@whirl-i-gig.com
>To: rat-list@whirl-i-gig.com
>Subject: Re: RAT solipsism/vanity
>Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 14:53:37 -0700
>
> >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 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)
>
>

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