To say my revision for my final Exam is still floating around my head is a bit of an understatement!. Whilst doing research / revision for my final exam, THEA 314 Theatre Admin, I spent quite a lot of time going through Government documentation about culture and the value of culture, why should the taxpayer pay for art?, what value does it have?. These arguments /debates / views are really interesting and I felt myself diverting away from memorizing quotes to taking a really keen interest in them.
Throughout the course of doing the module, I was inspired to try and work out, how the arts are valued in the UK? As someone who has always been interested and surrounded by the arts (theatre, film, media, pop music) it is always difficult to step out and try and ascertain and canvas opinion from people who are not involved. Whilst having a meal last night, me and my brother had this very conversation. Can Art have a purpose aside from just being 'Art for Arts Sake?', when I was younger, I could never see the attraction of a picture with a spot on a blue background (Sorry I am using an example from a Tate Modern Exhibition I saw when I was much younger), It didn't really seem to say anything to me. Now of course I can't possibly say what constitutes art and I never want to cast a value judgement because art unlike a lot of things is all about people's response to it. I love theatre / art / films when something happens aside from just seeing it, something sparks an interest, a thought, a response. I enjoy satire, jokes and political views on stage and in art. Art should provide a response to people, whether that is that they love it or whether its message is blurred between what the producer intended and the consumer receives and thus the opinion is that of confusion. Defining art is very difficult and thus it is extremely difficult to say that something should be or should not be art.
These arguments are really interesting to me because its the area I would really like to go into. As an Undergraduate I've been really interested in producing my own work, its a very complex and unsual practice. This year especially was interesting because it made me realise the complexities of funding, putting work on etc. It has not put me off, but over the last few days since I've been back at home, I've been thinking about the sort of things I'm interested in.
I am really interested in current affairs and I think it is the duty of any artist (visual arts, critics, theatre makers) to respond to the world they are in. Even if it is to create something to escape from the real world is where we live. I love theatre when it connects social issues and the intimacy theatre presents, because you get to see how these issues are reflected in real people and events. Artists have a unique opportunity to respond to the world and allow for other people to partake in this activity. Art should respond to the world.
Sorry to sound 'in-yer-face' about this, I don't mean to be!.
Marcus
