Don’t let the kitten fool you, this man is scum

Like many people, seeing Stephen Harper’s face in the paper can turn my stomach disgust at the best of times, but having to read about his latest jack-assery against the arts while I’m still on my first coffee of the day is really too much. The sheer ignorance of his latest attempt to annex the cultural producers of this country from the mass of “ordinary working people” is shocking to the point of disbelief, so much so that I almost feel sorry for the misinformed little fuckwit.

I could rant incessantly about the realities of the working artist’s life, the one that is lamentably low on the champagne galas Harper so stupidly alludes to and is instead high on thankless labour, pumping every scant resource one possesses into countless hours of unpaid work in hopes of producing something of lasting cultural value that may, if we’re lucky, allow us to earn something approaching a living wage. And in the meantime, many of us remain “ordinary working people” of Harper’s preferred kind, doing conventional jobs to remain afloat.

My experience is, of course, largely within the visual arts, but I know that our sector is not alone in this lifestyle. Even as I was fuming over my second cup of coffee, I received an email originating from the literary community of Durham Region via Erin Thomas, my sister-in-law and an emerging writer of young adult novels. Her succinct, characteristically polite thoughts on Harper’s asinine assessment of the arts follow:

I know a lot of readers. I know quite a few publishing writers. I know very few writers who come even close to making a living at it–and when they do, it’s not because of government hand-outs. It’s because they supplement their writing income by teaching classes and speaking in schools, or, as Ruth points out, by holding down other jobs and scrambling for a few hours of writing time. I think this, more than galas, is typical of a Canadian artist’s life.

Canadian children’s authors are well respected overseas… our country is viewed as one of the best, when it comes to children’s literature. I think you all know my views on books for kids (love them, think they make a difference, want to write good ones). Canada’s place in that community is something we can be proud of. It’s a shame that Stephen Harper doesn’t seem to realize it.

Erin’s comments were given as introduction to a letter penned by a fellow writer, Ruth E. Walker, and sent to the editor of the Toronto Star. Whether or not it gets published, her own balanced observations also bear repeating here:

Ordinary working people? Just who does he think produces the art and culture in this country? Who are our painters, our actors, our musicians, our songwriters, our dancers, our poets, our writers, our photographers, our sculptors, our singers, our storytellers, our playwrights, our potters and artisans and craftspeople?

Who paints the theatre scenes? Who designs and sews the costumes? Who installs and hangs the art in galleries? Who sells the tickets, prints the programs, places the advertising, orders the refreshments? Who points the camcorder, holds the camera boom, turns on the projector? Who raises the curtain, lowers the lights, and aims the spotlight? (…) Who teaches our children and young people to draw, act, sing, dance, film, photograph, paint, and write? To imagine and create? Who are the arts role models those children see in their communities?

The Prime Minister must be referring to those other ordinary Canadians who have nothing to do with the arts. You know—the ones up the street and around the corner who are not arts or culture consumers and have no one in their family or social circle involved in the arts or culture. Oh yeah. Those people. All three of them.

I trust those three people will know how to vote in October.

Hey, Harper? This ridiculous feel-good photo of you with Cheddar here? The one meant to make you look slightly less vile? Much as it pains me to admit it, this photo wouldn’t have happened without the skills of who knows how many poor bastards in the arts industry. Frankly, I still have a hard time believing that there’s actually a human consciousness at work behind your deadened blue eyes, but be assured that your status to date has been built not only through the good graces of big business, but also through the craft of words and images, the very stuff of the arts. And trying to chop off the hands that make your presence in the world is downright political suicide, not to mention a blight on this country’s people and reputation.

FRESH / LATEST POSTS

Archives

Blogroll