Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: A Golden Age for the Arts?

62 Responses

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  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Five years of frozen NZOA funding is a long, long time

    But not if you believe culture is stuff composed several centuries ago somewhere else.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Bennett,

    All the stuff Chris Finlayson has itemised in his tweets is basic stuff that any government should be doing. At no point is there evidence of vision, enthusiasm for or recognition of the importance of the arts as a fundamental part of a healthy nation. It's bare minimum stuff: more wallspace for hanging some of the national art collection, resolving not to destroy cultural artifacts in war situations. FFS

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 174 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Traditionally, it seems periods of above-average fuck-up-ed-ness bring out the best creative streaks. The Great Depression saw jazz, swing, blues and big band music thrive. The turbulence of Vietnam gave us psychedelia, folk rock, and the wider protest song movement. The breakdown of the Bretton Woods system saw the rise of the Sex Pistols, Bob Marley, and Joy Division. Gangsta rap rose up from the housing projects of the Bronx and South Central LA.

    We're now into the Great Recession, and it seems no obvious musical groundswell has emerged. Any ideas?

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Bull Shite,

    Arrrrrrgh me hearties !

    Since Dec 2011 • 6 posts Report Reply

  • PeterLynch,

    Aargh, just updated to Firefox 21 and those tweets do not appear. Only get to see either a thin line or a large-ish empty box.

    Wellington • Since Feb 2012 • 3 posts Report Reply

  • Graham Dunster, in reply to Simon Bennett,

    +1

    Auckland • Since Nov 2009 • 184 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Here's the Finlayson Twitter account if people want to catch up. To be honest, it doesn't help his case at all, and it demonstrates an obsession with funding decisions as an end that ought to be anathema to a conservative politician. Poor.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    We're now into the Great Recession, and it seems no obvious musical groundswell has emerged. Any ideas?

    From what I can tell, the groundswell of our time is live TV karaoke banging out stuff that was mostly made last century. People who themselves were once famous musicians play third rate hosts to such genius. Being a rock-star is passe, now it's all about being some hard luck nobody getting the big shot.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • B Jones, in reply to BenWilson,

    Dance marathons and the like were huge in the 20s and 30s, and they're not that different to modern game/talent shows. They could have seemed as big as jazz etc to contemporary eyes, yet their lasting legacy is questionable. There could well be some musical/artistic response to the current worldwide economic climate, but when we hear about it depends on how plugged in we are to what's new (I'm totally not) and it might be a while before it's obvious what happened, because it has to filter through the noise of One Direction and Justin Bieber and so forth. And chances are anyone over thirty will hate it.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 976 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    bit of a folk resurgence, though it's not my bag at all so others will know more

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher, in reply to BenWilson,

    From what I can tell, the groundswell of our time is live TV karaoke banging out stuff that was mostly made last century. People who themselves were once famous musicians play third rate hosts to such genius. Being a rock-star is passe, now it’s all about being some hard luck nobody getting the big shot.

    Wait, are you talking about the 1970s? Because that’s sounding a lot like _New Faces_. Except _New Faces_ had the genuinely thrilling Space Waltz. But it also had the now cringe-inducing appearance of a Pakeha family of singers doing the racially awkward “Shortnin’ Bread”. NZ On Screen has the episode.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • TracyMac,

    Yeah, not that convinced by the "suffering = great art" trope. Sure, some great artists can produce great works in great adversity, but not that much actually when you're right in the middle of it - you generally need supplies and (paying) audiences.

    For every Chatterton, you have a John Donne. Bach and Handel never lacked wealth and patronage, etc etc etc. The Beatles and the Stones made their millions pretty quickly once they hit the big time.

    Canberra, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 701 posts Report Reply

  • Joanna, in reply to B Jones,

    Dance marathons and the like were huge in the 20s and 30s, and they’re not that different to modern game/talent shows.

    I had never thought about that, but you're totally right. Thank you!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 746 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Robyn Gallagher,

    Wait, are you talking about the 1970s?

    I may be. Anyway, I was talking gobshite. I don't really pretend to know the zeitgeist on music, because I don't listen to much that's new. That, in itself, is a purely visceral reaction to how unoriginal it sounds to me. Which is probably unfair, and I ought to develop my tastes further with lengthy periods listening to things I don't like. But it seems like work.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Roger Lacey,

    I think the Minister maybe confusing the word "age" with the word "shower". Maybe he was trying to say it was the end of a golden age? I'm confused.

    Whatakataka Bay Surf Club… • Since Apr 2008 • 148 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to B Jones,

    Art & the real McCoy...

    Dance marathons and the like were huge in the 20s and 30s...

    ...they shoot artists don't they?
    ;- /

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Scott Chris,

    Golden Age? I don’t think so. Classic bubble mentality.

    Most practising artists have little in common with gold.

    Auckland • Since Feb 2012 • 167 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    first against the wall
    #neigh

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • FletcherB,

    Surely, the golden age of anything, is judged in retrospect?

    Are we in a golden age of Arts, rugby, politics or anything else? How the Frick could we possibly conclude that, until we've seen where it sinks to (or improves, disproving the golden age theorem) at some other time after now...

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • "chris", in reply to Lyndon Hood,

    #goldenage in political satire sector in NZ

    Nah I'm pretty sure he packed off to Oz around '77

    location, location, locat… • Since Dec 2010 • 250 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    Budget 2013: $2m for ‘New Zealand Story’ project

    Just because I saw the headline and thought, 'Oh, it might be an arts press release.'

    It isn't.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Here’s the Finlayson Twitter account if people want to catch up. To be honest, it doesn’t help his case at all

    Not at all. Then again, I could really have done without Claire Curran wagging her finger at Hamish Keith – who, agree with him or not, does actually know his arse from him elbow and has been around long enough that this is a dangerous subject to condescend on. Yeah, I expect Oppositions to oppose but, frankly, Labour’s art policy last go around was long on platitudinous waffle and short on substance. I expect a bit more at this point from a Government-in-waiting that another spokesman holding a listening tour so folks can say it all one more time.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Bennett,

    Possibly one of the reasons for opposition lack of engagement on this issue is that any whiff of Government support of the arts is not a votes winner. When every critical aspect of the country has been worn down to the bone or sold off, to talk about funding of artists is an anathema to many. Sadly.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 174 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Michie, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    While not able to thoroughly reference I think these movements predated the crises but became more apparent when more of the members of a normally dominant population/culture/s found they were by necessity of straightened times mixing more disadvantaged populations/cultures.

    Auckward • Since Nov 2006 • 614 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Yeah, I expect Oppositions to oppose but, frankly, Labour’s art policy last go around was long on platitudinous waffle and short on substance. I expect a bit more at this point from a Government-in-waiting that another spokesman holding a listening tour so folks can say it all one more time.

    Yes -- and it undermines any criticism they might have of current government policy. It's an area where Labour has heritage and should be strong and articulate.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

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