Muse by Craig Ranapia

Read Post

Muse: The Very Odd Future According to Sandra Coney

108 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 Newer→ Last

  • Keir Leslie,

    We have evidence that Coney --- in her role as a Councillor and chair of the Council's Parks, Recreation and Heritage Forum:

    approached the CEO of Regional Facilities Auckland John Brockies with Calum's concerns and my own having watched Youtube,” she says.

    “After a discussion with BDO organisers this group will no longer be appearing in BDO in NZ.”

    As quoted at GayNZ.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Sacha,

    @Sacha: I think I’ve been careful not to accuse Coney (or John Brockies) of breaking the law. But the direct quotes from Coney above – the veracity of which have not been questioned – raise serious question marks over her judgement at least.

    The open invite to Coney and Brockies to respond to my post, either here or in a guest post, stands.

    The OI requests will be lodged first thing tomorrow, and I’ll also be invited the Mayor and the rest of Council to comment.

    Beyond that, we shall see what we will see.

    ETA: I'm also sure that if anything even potentially defamatory of Cr. Coney popped up, either Russell or I would knock it on the head. Not that PASers aren't a perfectly sensible and temperate bunch. :)

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

  • Sacha, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I think I’ve been careful not to accuse Coney (or John Brockies) of breaking the law

    You can no doubt see how words like "unlawful" and "legal" entering the conversation might appear to be heading in that direction.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I'm okay with the discussion thus far.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I'm okay with the discussion thus far.

    You're more of a Cliff fan than Craig is, then?

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    I heard a snippet of one of the BDO organisers on bFM this morning. She seemed to indicate that they, as promoters and a business have a thing for not booking acts that are down the homophobic, sexist, or racist road. They want to be inclusive and comfortable. At the same time, titillation, controversy, or other such generators of outrage they're entirely okay with. There's a line and a balance to perform. Once they realised Odd Future were more than they wanted, they dropped them.

    It's entirely possible the person being interviewed was insincere, but she didn't sound it. Perhaps I'm naive. Of course, the Beenie Man community* backlash probably informs their position, and that's something I'm happy with. Your views may differ.

    *Their community, the pool of punters and people who frequent the BDO.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • DCBCauchi, in reply to George Darroch,

    I heard a snippet of one of the BDO organisers on bFM this morning. She seemed to indicate that they, as promoters and a business have a thing for not booking acts that are down the homophobic, sexist, or racist road. They want to be inclusive and comfortable. At the same time, titillation, controversy, or other such generators of outrage they’re entirely okay with. There’s a line and a balance to perform. Once they realised Odd Future were more than they wanted, they dropped them.

    Personally, I have no problem with that whatsoever. But I do think it is beside the point.

    As far as I can tell, one person wrote an email, probably hoping for just this reaction (probably because of the Beenie Man history). I have no problem with that either. It is laudable.

    What I do have a problem with is the politician who seems to have acted deplorably. It is a bad precedent. A scary precedent. One that encourages self-censorship in publicly funded arts organisations (as if they need any more of that!). And gods know who else.

    Regardless of the whys and wherefores, Sandra Coney appears to have done a bad thing. No matter how you slice and dice it.

    It is not acceptable.

    Since Feb 2011 • 320 posts Report Reply

  • DCBCauchi,

    Has Stuff just put up a press release without editing it?

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/5933894/Kanye-axed-from-BDO

    ‘It was confirmed last week that controversial hip hop group Odd Future had been pulled from the festival after complaints were received about their homophobic lyrics.

    ’Can you add that refunds on tickets only avaliabel until Novermber 30.

    ’And that Kanye is still appearing at selected Australian BDOs[.]’

    Gee, I’d be overjoyed if I’d forked out for this mess.

    Since Feb 2011 • 320 posts Report Reply

  • merc,

    It is abuse of privilege that casts a pall over all the things that others may have done to make this sort of interference unacceptable, especially from officials.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    This is somewhat ironic, especially considering that sex workers rights groups have major headaches with the (former) Manukau City Council's antisoliciting ordinance and refusal to let council-owned rental accomodation to street sex workers-most of whom are transgender and under ambiguous protection from the Human Rights Act at best. One wonders what Coney thinks about that...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • DCBCauchi, in reply to Craig Young,

    Oh very good call.

    Since Feb 2011 • 320 posts Report Reply

  • merc,

    ...or what she thinks about rezoning land.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Craig Young,

    One wonders what Coney thinks about that…

    Given that she was strongly opposed to prostitution reform, she quite likely approves.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Well, finally managed to get LGOIMA requests lodged. After twenty minutes of unsatisfactory phone-pong, I gave up. Managed to find this which, if I was a wee bit more cynical, would make one suspect it was meant to be hard to find.

    Now, the fun really begins...

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

  • Craig Young,

    Problem is, Russell, most of those street sex workers are young whakawahine and fa'afafine, so I really don't like that sort of blanket ban and I'm concerned Coney hasn't thought of that angle while declaring indiscriminate opposition. It exacerbates the effects of institutional racism and gender identity discrimination in those young transwomen's lives.

    My Gaynz.Com critique of the BDO Odd Future ban is now up on Gaynz.Com:
    http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/24/printer_11028.php

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Craig Young,

    I've put a link to your piece (and others) in the post. Good work, Craig.

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

  • Craig Young,

    ...and followed it up with a brief cultural history of why the left seems to get into these dead-end spasms of cultural and social authoritarianism against popular culture from time to time. Cue the Frankfurt School, Mackinnon and Dworkin and the current anti-hiphop moral panic amongst some of us at the moment:

    http://www.gaynz.com/blogs/redqueen/?p=86

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Craig Young,

    people seem to forget that fascism came from the left

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    Er, no, it probably came from the fragmentation of Italian civil society after unification in the 1860s until the ascent of Mussolini, and the turmoil of German civil society during the days of the Weimar Republic. Ernest Thalmann and the KPD have to take some share of the blame for refusing to work alongside the SPD against the Nazis, though.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    In light of Auckland dropping Kanye in order to 'save' the BDO, my speculation about OFWGKTA is somewhat different. Losing another international headliner happens to lower their costs. I'm not saying this is why they did it, or that it is a pretext. But I think their current woes are sure to have made their decision easier.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    But I think their current woes are sure to have made their decision easier.

    Possibly - Metallica certainly moved tickets in 2004, but it must also have been a hellishly expensive crap shoot to take. In 2011, you don't have to look far or hard to see arts orgs laying off staff, cutting programs, being extremely risk-adverse and...yeah, dropping costly and marginal performers that would be "nice to have but..." to coin a phrase.

    There's also, from my cursory research, some diversity of opinion whether the BDO and hip-hop have ever been a good fit. Russell might be able to speak to that with more credibility.

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

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Craig Young,

    Cue the Frankfurt School, Mackinnon and Dworkin and the current anti-hiphop moral panic amongst some of us at the moment:

    It reminds me of when eugenics was effectively pioneered by well-meaning liberal movements like Planned Parenthood, only to perfected in a very twisted way by decidedly illiberal movements such as the Third Reich.

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

  • Steve Barnes,

    Just thank God gays cant breed, eh?
    Does that beat a veiled Godwin?
    /* gets coat,runs for cover, joins weird sect, buys new sneakers and waits for starship/*

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    We can, it's just more complicated.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • Scarlet Sorceress,

    "We know that dyke boobage on bikes, trannies and and Hi-NRG dance music won’t magically turn you..."

    Can you please not use slurs to refer to transgender people?
    Thanks.

    Since Nov 2011 • 3 posts Report Reply

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

Please sign in using your Public Address credentials…

Login

You may also create an account or retrieve your password.