RANT STARTS HERE
Margaret Hodge (Minister of Culture, whatever that means) has been having a pop at the Proms. She is concerned that many people would not feel comfortable at attending them.
How's this for some Grade A twaddle?
"The audiences for some of many of our greatest cultural events - I'm thinking particularly of the Proms - is still a long way from demonstrating that people from different backgrounds feel at ease in being part of this.
"I know this is not about making every audience completely representative, but if we claim great things for our sectors in terms of their power to bring people together, then we have a right to expect they will do that wherever they can."
So, cultural activities have an inherent responsibility to "bring people together" ? And "we have a right to expect" them to do so ? God Almighty.
Look, I'm no huge fan of the Proms. I can cope with classical music - I've got Beethoven on my iPod - but I wouldn't necessarily pay money to go and listen to it. If I did, I'd have to find someone other than Mrs Womble On Tour to go with. The Last Night of the Proms - which is probably what Mrs Hodge has really got a bee in her bonnet about - does nothing for me either, seeing as it is dedicated to a country (Britain) that I no longer believe in.
But why do the organisers have a duty to "bring people together" ?
Is it necessary that every cultural event prevents everyone from "feeling uncomfortable" ?
Why does everything have to be "inclusive" ?
What is wrong with different things appealing to different people ?
Why can't people who don't want to go just decide to stay away, and if they do decide to stay away why does it have to be an issue for the Culture Minister ?
Why is it that socialists find it so hard to put up with events that appeal only to certain sections of society ?
END OF RANT
Looking Forward To A Labour Conference
16 years ago
3 comments:
Why is it that socialists find it so hard to put up with events that appeal only to certain sections of society ?
Only those sections that include white men, the English and the middle class. Apart from that they'll support any sort of rubbish.
I love the proms (especially the last night) and it's exactly because I meet people there who are like me, like the same things and believe in the same things as me, that they are so much fun. Oh, and I get to lust after Chico's arse (yes, I was disturbed by this one too)
I do like classical music, and I do pay money to go to concerts to hear it regularly.
I've also been to the proms, as a guest of a man who has been going since he was a small boy. The audience is very much a mix of society, although it is true to say that one does not see many blacks or asians, but that is their choice. They are perfectly welcome, and those that do attend seem to enjoy it immensely.
As for not feeling comfortable - well I wouldn't feel comfortable at a pop or rock event, so I don't go, that's my choice.
I agree that this stupid outburst is certainly directed at the Last Night of the Proms, where the combination of Land of Hope and Glory, Jerusalem and Rule Britannia would be deeply offensive to good socialists. Personally I glory in it, as do the audience with the waving flags which always include those of a good few other countries.
Why can't this woman and those like her just shut up and let us enjoy ourselves how we wish. Those that like classical music can go to concerts, and those that like pop and rock can go to those gigs.
We don't want dumbing down of what we enjoy to make it acceptable to "all", especially as it still wouldn't work.
What a thought - she probably wants to establish quotas so that for each concert there must be a given target number of tickets for women, ethnic minorities, immigrants, and all the other categories the government loves so much.
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