Public Address | Cafe | Speaker: In Praise of The Catalysts of Thought: The Free Theatre's 'Faust Chroma' https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/ en-us Copyright (c) 2026 Public Address Bob Munro https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=52454#post52454 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=52454#post52454 The Free Theatre lived up to its name and I got to see the play for free last Friday. And it was wonderful.

We were welcomed with wine and feted with more of the same at the conclusion. The set was multi-layered and used with great imagination. There was movie…

]]> Thu, 29 May 2008 10:28:32 +1200 Rob Stowell https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=48052#post48052 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=48052#post48052 Thanks for explaining Sharon. ]
And commiserations.
I won't air my full feelings- I also work for UC. But feelings of relief for some particular people affected are tempered by anger and regret. Kia kaha.

]]> Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:48:49 +1200 Sharon Mazer https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=48027#post48027 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=48027#post48027 Ooops. Instead of

The major in Theatre and Film Studies are to be disestablished.

Please read

The major in Theatre and Film Studies is to be disestablished.

Someone please slap me on the wrist now.

]]> Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:31:45 +1200 Sharon Mazer https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=48024#post48024 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=48024#post48024 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:28:24 +1200 philipmatthews https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=48023#post48023 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=48023#post48023 It hasn't been reported very clearly.

American Studies stays but loses 4.5 academic staff. Art History loses 2 academic staff and a librarian. Theatre Studies keeps its 2 academic staff and is merged with music and fine arts into a Centre of Performing and Fine Arts. Film Studies keeps its…

]]> Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:26:56 +1200 Bob Munro https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47983#post47983 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47983#post47983 I'm really confused by this report in the Herald on Tuesday. Does this mean that Theatre and Film and American Studies programmes are saved but the staff positions aren’t?

It would now retain the American Studies programme, but with a reduction in staff, Film Studies academic staff would…

]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:09:05 +1200 ali bramwell https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47308#post47308 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47308#post47308 yeah, thanks Kyle

...did I make it clear that I dont actually agree with that vocational perception thing? I was talking about the advice students get from worried parents...Mum and Dad are convinced if Judy or Johnny goes to art/film/drama/etc school their life will be ruined, they will never have…

]]> Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:12:51 +1200 Kyle Matthews https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47192#post47192 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47192#post47192 Actually stats have indicated that graduates of an arts degree, are more likely to be working or in postgraduate study than graduates of some other degrees (commerce I think was noticeable) a couple of years after graduation.

The belief that an arts degree won't get you a job is largely…

]]> Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:24:20 +1200 ali bramwell https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47191#post47191 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47191#post47191 kerry I cant agree about the futility of arts education or of history. (how can we prevent the same mistakes if we dont know how they happened the first time for instance?)

But I totally agree with you that the student loan issue is a major part of the problem.…

]]> Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:18:12 +1200 Kerry Weston https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47183#post47183 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47183#post47183 Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:28:05 +1200 Ben Austin https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47179#post47179 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47179#post47179 Ugh, I remember the 1997 Humanities cutbacks at Otago. Kind of hard to forget watching a grown man (my lecturer) cry in a lecture.

Any hope Canterbury handles this better?

]]> Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:39:29 +1200 Kyle Matthews https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47174#post47174 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47174#post47174

How the hell can you close a department that has working PhD students? Appalling.

It's actually not easy to close a department without screwing over some PhD students. If you're nice about it, and say "we'll close in three years, everyone finish up their PhDs, no one take on any…

]]> Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:49:53 +1200 Stephen Judd https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47163#post47163 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47163#post47163 met this really interesting chap over Easter who was doing fantastic stuff with martial dance theatre. A budding expert in South Indian martial arts, someone who's helped take kapa haka offshore to foreign success. He was telling me about his PhD work. "That's neat!" I said, "I want to… ]]> Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:01:55 +1200 Jackie Clark https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47150#post47150 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47150#post47150 Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:58:02 +1200 Bob Munro https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47082#post47082 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47082#post47082 Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:26:56 +1200 Bob Munro https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47079#post47079 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47079#post47079

re the Employment Relations Act, I'm not sure, but I think some of this has been avoided by the disestablishment of entire programmes — people are not made redundant as such: their jobs simply no longer exist. I think.

Yes – it's perhaps like the business decision to close a…

]]> Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:15:07 +1200 Kyle Matthews https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47077#post47077 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47077#post47077

PS Did anyone in Dunedin go see the show? Kyle? Ali?

Sadly I'm saving my limited funds for Heavenly Burlesque at Sammy's this Friday. A burlesque show with circus arts, followed by Sonic Smith at the after party. It's got the three essential food groups surely.

]]> Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:13:59 +1200 Creon Upton https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47042#post47042 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=47042#post47042 Ali wrote

Even where the contribution of arts/humanities to a healthy society is taken as a given, the assumption is that no social investment is required because these activities will continue anyway. The old and tired artists do it because they love it economics of matyrdom are being used, where…

]]> Tue, 08 Apr 2008 09:20:42 +1200 Sharon Mazer https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46994#post46994 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46994#post46994 Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:42:00 +1200 Bob Munro https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46993#post46993 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46993#post46993 Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:23:23 +1200 Bob Munro https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46991#post46991 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46991#post46991 In terms of the second point, of course there are some support systems put in place for staff during times of "change", but frankly the general attitude from management has been, I'm sure, completely at odds with recommended business practice — essentially bullying and a complete lack of transparency, ie,… ]]> Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:07:30 +1200 Creon Upton https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46990#post46990 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46990#post46990 Yes, Simon, I guess the funding thing is one of the problems: whatever the govt of the day decides is the appropriate measure dictates a lot of the policy.

At the moment I think PBRF (staff research output) and "completion and retention" (of students) are the important things.

But thankfully…

]]> Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:01:49 +1200 Simon Bennett https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46987#post46987 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46987#post46987 I'm led to believe that one of the academic criteria for measuring the 'output' of a discipline is the level of postgraduate study. This is linked to funding.

In the areas of theatre and film studies (at VUW, anyway), the number of postgraduate students is relatively low.

Might this not…

]]> Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:09:08 +1200 Creon Upton https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46986#post46986 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46986#post46986 While the university's not paying me (lunch break) to do other things, I can begin to respond.

Bob wrote

Every business has to cut it's cloth according to changing circumstances and retrenchment and reorganisation is common in the commercial world. What is also common are support systems to mitigate for…

]]> Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:59:18 +1200 Kyle Matthews https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46985#post46985 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46985#post46985

cost benefit equation that thinks (bizarrely) that tertiary arts/humanities education has created too many professional artists (writers/actors) etc will remedy this by reducing tertiary arts courses.

Which I find somewhat ironic. Surely, if we're going to adopt a market approach to education, then the control point is when there aren't…

]]> Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:32:00 +1200 Sharon Mazer https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46982#post46982 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46982#post46982 Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:51:22 +1200 Geoff Lealand https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46978#post46978 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46978#post46978 Good to see this discussion in the public domain. I am concerned about Film and Theatre Studies but even more concerned about American Studies, for the proposals have implications for a much larger group of people. I haven't seen much to match the lobbying going in respect of Film/Theatre.

I…

]]> Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:38:04 +1200 Simon Bennett https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46976#post46976 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46976#post46976 University cutbacks in the humanities, particularly in the areas of Theatre and film studies is something that makes me quite wild.

In the early '80s I began an LLB/BA degree at Victoria. I had no real idea of what to do with my life, I had been good at English…

]]> Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:04:44 +1200 ali bramwell https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46974#post46974 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46974#post46974 Its good to see someone speaking so specifically about the implications of Canterbury's 'change proposal' and its potential impacts on arts development.

I was at the recent govt forum for the arts in Chch which was gatecrashed by a determined student group (from the under-threat film and theatre studies dept…

]]> Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:27:49 +1200 Kyle Matthews https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46970#post46970 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46970#post46970

I hope things were handled better for the staff.

Probably not. In 1997 Otago University was cutting back in the arts – Russian was disestablished, and German and Classics suffered staff losses. The final proposal went to a University Council meeting, and students and staff were protesting outside.

When the…

]]> Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:08:04 +1200 Bob Munro https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46969#post46969 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46969#post46969 I can't match the erudition of the post. But somebody better start this off. My son's best mate is in his second year at Canterbury which he is attending purely so he can study his obsessions, film and American studies.

Every business has to cut it's cloth according to changing…

]]> Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:53:57 +1200 Public Address https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46968#post46968 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/speaker-in-praise-of-the-catalysts-of-thought/?p=46968#post46968 Discussion from blog post.

]]> Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:53:57 +1200