there is a purpose
Posted on 08. Jul, 2011 by Adrian in muse
words > BRILEY MEEK
Down… down… down…. the archetypical imagery of Alice following the white rabbit deep down the hole. The farcical dark story of youth compares so sadly to the current trends in the modern art movement. Our white rabbit being not the fluffy time piece toting bunny, rather we are lead by the non-artists, those leaders who seem to believe the arts will die without a fight. Maybe the clash is not against Alice’s Queen of Hearts, but rather a resistance against the lack of a budget. Perhaps, the goal is not to kill the arts, as many of the affected seem to rationalize (and in their position, I cannot blame this conclusion), but there is a desperate lack of funding for our cultural preservation. Perhaps this misguided deprivation is good for us. That art should be made or artists should be made to suffer give us fuel. Good fuel for empowerment and unification.
Despite the financial strain that has recently befallen many theatres in the city; more theatres have risen up and out of the tears and sweat than have collapsed under the tension. Almost in rebellion. The possibility of another venue in the city raises tremendous excitement. Theatre will live on regardless of financial cut backs. It will be an arduous mission. Throughout centuries, whenever law prohibited theatre to any degree it was always strenuous to carry forth, but it did and it will.
New theatres are renovating Wichita’s art scene, and yet I become concerned. My trepidations come from the division that can so fiercely strike artists, when we so seriously need to support one another. Artists of every medium have peers with who they enjoy collaborating; who share their ideals and the friendship that has developed. While I am one of these many, I must remind myself to traverse the city for challenges. Not seeking out antagonism and those who work differently has the possibility of preventing an artist, a technician, an actor or a theatre from maximizing the potential achievement. Opposition and difference is the climate upon which theatre is built, thriving on the complex and demanding cultural changes, leader opposition and lack of funding is how art is fashioned.
Recently, I was confronted with my own ideals; one of the few times since college I have been forced to assess what I believe about art and ideas. The situation arose from a misunderstanding. It was, of course, about theatre in the city. The claims it plays the same old stuff with mediocre productions: the generating of classics merely because they sell tickets, the performance of edgy material purely to shock patrons and slapstick comedies play on for no reason whatsoever. Disagree. Disagree. Disagree. Not to say these things do not go on, because they do everywhere. I just have a greater respect for the motives of the producers of these works than to make these brash generalizations. At a time of struggle, we can forget how desperately we need other artists with whom to learn. We have to evaluate what we advocate. With such defamation and budget shortfalls is there such a thing as Art for Art’s sake anymore?
I do not know a single theatre in the city that produces work simply for ‘shock value’ and not for a more profound motive. Theatre is not meant for shock value. It is meant to enlighten, entertain and effect. Melodrama and Molière each has his own purpose, but there is a purpose. Classics are such that fill seats because of the timeless nature of the themes. These plays live on because they reach out and brush the souls of audience members, not to fill seats. I’ve been in nearly empty and packed theatres to experience these works. There is not a single theatre in Wichita that should consider itself better than another. Collectively, this city produces work that pushes and drives new thoughts and ideas: that is our common goal. It is essential for a community to support one another. We share actors, directors, technicians, producers, volunteers and audience.
While I do champion people for having his or her own tastes, I press the analytical, including myself, to think, breath and experience outside of the comfort of their own hardened artistic beliefs. I am, and have always been, a crusader for better work. Strive for greatness; never stop evolving a show, concept, design. Art is beautiful because of the living evolution of the process. However, just like good could not exist without evil, the principle bleeds itself into theatre as well. There is no black without white, good without bad, no beautiful without hideous, and so on. Yet, art is, always has been and always will be subjective. Just like a youthful-hipster I recently encountered in a diner berating the music of the establishment, what he considers to be good music could not exist without the existence his adversary. We must drive ourselves to get out of our comfort level and expand our knowledge of the human experience, even if it chaps our ass.
Shrouding the scenery of centuries of war, science and existence is art. Art: which captures and brings us through history more alive than any textbook could conceive. Although the struggle to deal with cut backs in public funding or in scholastic programs will continue time and time again, the theatre will never be obsolete. While I do support another theatre company, fresh actors, new technicians and, especially, more patrons enthusiastically, I become anxious. The excitement a new company can bring can also bring with it a possibility of alienation.
Wichita produces great work throughout the city that continuously brings the populace to art, ideas and innovation. Our community produces work that brings people someplace not yet experienced. It is mandatory for a community to support one another. In a climate like this, we need each other. The lambasting of the work of local artists, but advocating of oneself as a theatre, artist or designer will not bring the masses forth. Have opinions, be vocal about them, but do not estrange oneself from a community. The increase of interest in Wichita art and artists can help ignite the publicity of others. Even while digging out of this hole in which we have found ourselves flung, we slap the dust off our drawers and rebuild what has been destroyed to carry on together.
