this page was last updated
July 12, 2003
Ooh a Letter, We Love Letters!
with all the best, wayne
Wow, just read the letter
(email) from Petunia in issue #1 of Jack, and I just have to
say, "here, here!" About time somebody put it into perspective.
Of course music (and all other art) is a commodity to be sold, it’s
a product like any other. The capitalist society we live in is founded
on competition, and the same should apply to art as well.
We need to have consistency - art that appeals to the largest possible
audience. When are these philanthropists and granting agencies going
to realize that they are holding up dead weight? Music and art that
has a limited audience is just not right. We need art that is easily
definable, easy to package and is, of course, commercially viable.
Otherwise you get this excessive diversification that leaves most
people confused and unable to decide what to buy. A confused consumer
is not a happy one. They need easy to follow directions, have a
clear indication of what they should, and should not like. Having
to think or make up their own mind about something is just out of
the question, that is not what they pay their hard-earned money
for. They pay to be entertained, not educated. They went to school
for that.
I also agree that we need to raise admission prices and cover charges
so that people really understand the value of art. And hell, if
they can’t afford it, they don’t deserve it. Go out and work like
everyone else! So that’s really what it comes down to; get rid of
grants, and raise prices. Maybe then all those lazy artists and
ungrateful poor people will finally get off of their butts and earn
money like everyone else!
See also David LaRiviere’s
comments re: arts funding
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