Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Value for who?

When you speak of the value of theatre, are you talking about intrinsic value? The value it holds for you? Its current value within the artistic spectrum? Its current value within the world as a whole? Commercial value?

On the one hand, I want more specificity from this discussion. On the other, I'm already half bored and specificity will likely make it worse.

When did we decide to unify? And why does it have to be such a dour, introspective process? Can't I do what is important to me and you do what is important to you and we both acknowledge that what we are doing is both connected and variant and understand that we are part of one community while chasing different dreams?

And can't we do it now, without months of blathering about doing it?

P.Rekk
2008

5 comments:

Scott Walters said...

Hi, Paul! I think the original motive for the discussion was, basically, why in a world flooded with much cheaper entertainment alternatives should theatre continue to exist? Why should people choose it at all? Since theatre get's its ass kicked as far as price is concerned, there must be some other reason -- what might it be?

As far as your last question, Nick did a nice job answering:
http://theatreideas.blogspot.com/2008/03/well-put-nick.html

Anonymous said...

To Devil Advocate

I agree that the conversation can get tedious, but it is important to listen to each other.

It is also equally important to voice disagreement and dissent. Too often, some on the blogosphere can't stay any criticism of their ideas and like to imagine that others are censoring or insulting them.

If we are going to talk about it, then thicker skins are required.

-dv

Tony Adams said...

Welcome Back.

I'm not sure I understand where you're going with this.

"When did we decide to unify?"

"what we are doing is both connected and variant and understand that we are part of one community while chasing different dreams?"

Maybe I'm misreading, but I'm not seeing that there has to be a distinction between the two--Between a semi-unified community, while still having differing opinions and work.

btw, hearing great things about Faster.

Anonymous said...

I think I've just come from that meeting with exactly the same feeling...
except I'm in Tasmania...
Cheers
Stu

Anonymous said...

All I know is, television never bitches about its existence, even as cable programming kicks its ass.

Then all you know is bupkis, bub.

Television execs bitch about that very thing every single day. And, in some cases, it forces them to create better television.

I get where you're coming from - "Leave me alone to do MY thing, man" and as far as any of this is concerned, no one seems to be stopping you from doing just that.

So, your only problem with this is that it bores you. And that bores me.