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Last updated on May 20th, 2017 at 07:10 am
Phoney Ruddlemania has bitten the dust:
The unity and goodwill that radiated from Kevin Rudd’s 2020 Summit last weekend have evaporated, with some participants saying they cannot recognise the “big ideas” attributed to them while others claim they were “systematically silenced”.
Among the silenced is Melbourne theatre reviewer Alison Croggon:
I was at the Summit, in the Creative Stream. There was general and deep dismay about the report that was handed up on the supposed fruits of our labour. Quite a lot was lost or altered in translation. In fact, we came up with quite a lot of substantial suggestions for policy, and our aspirations were rather different to what was eventually posted.
Alison and her fellow Creatives remain determined “to advocate more effectively for what they do”, whatever that is:
Firstly, perhaps, to change that inevitable, snarky percpetion that artists have nothing to offer and are always asking for more money.
Those perceptions are so unfair. Who might have suggested them? Wherever might they have come from?
The funding threat to La Mama Theatre is a threat to Australian society as a whole, writes Alison Croggon.
Oh. Back to Alison’s initial comments, in which she vows to maintain a Peter Garrett vigil:
I think Garrett might be feeling a bit nervous at present. What he’s created here is a bunch of empowered people wanting to hold him accountable.
Maybe they’ll shout at him.
(Via AJ and Max the Cat)
UPDATE. Chris Berg:
Wasn’t it better during the Howard government, when we weren’t able to quantify how dim Australia’s best and brightest actually were? Or how few ideas they had?
Quite a lot was lost or altered in translation.
Having been involved in waaaaaaaaay too many “brainstorming” sessions that ended up being whining sessions where personal agendas (i.e., “I need more money!”) were pushed, I suspect much of that “translation” was in fact filtering out nonsense, fluff, and pure bulls**t.
Indeed, I offer my sympathies to the luckless staffers tasked with writing up the report; it’s even money that much alcohol was consumed in the process, but not to fuel the imagination. More like to control the pain by numbing the senses.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2008 04 27 at 02:20 PM • permalink
Alas, paco, I must endure yet another event of a similar nature. I’m contemplating breaking my leg the week before and sending some luckless fool one of my subordinated instead.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2008 04 27 at 02:33 PM • permalink
I meant “subordinates”, not “subordinated”, of course; I don’t run my office like Rudd or Pelosi.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2008 04 27 at 02:34 PM • permalink
Firstly, perhaps, to change that inevitable, snarky percpetion that artists have nothing to offer and are always asking for more money.
But Alison, that is all that artists of your ilk do. I must add, it’s also very, very annoying. If you want money, either sign up for the dole, or do something really radical and anti-establishment and get a job, and do your artwork during your spare time out of your own pocket, and then try to sell it. I know, I know, the last one is a radical, impossible to implement idea, but you can always prove me wrong.
Is anyone else reminded of the old Three Stooges short, “The Dictators,” where the Stooges fall to fighting over how to divide up a world they haven’t congquered yet?
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2008 04 27 at 03:04 PM • permalink
I read Alison’s words and got a cold chill down my spine, along with a mental picture of the many faculty and staff meetings I was forced to attend. I have no doubt several arguments broke out in the room concerning whose agenda was more important. The rest of it had to be fairy wings and pixie dust mixed with a hefty gust of hot air.
I have a question. As I would.
If Australia implements one of the supposedly fresh ideas from the Creative Stream of the 2020 Summit and pays artists a living wage equal to the national average wage then does the government get the proceeds of any sales that the artists makes, unlikely as it may seem that anyone would want to actually buy any of the execrable artefacts that pass for modern art these days?
And if some truly talented artist strikes it rich and their paintings sell for big bucks then will they be happy to let the government rake in the money or will they instantly become capitalists the moment they smell a few big dollars coming their way?
Posted by Jack Lacton on 2008 04 27 at 05:38 PM • permalink
Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston confirmed 26-year-old Private Luke Worsley was shot dead 10 kilometres east of Tarin Kowt in the Oruzgan province at about 7:30am (AEDT).
- a bunch of empowered people wanting to hold him accountable.
Also known as ‘voters’.RIP Private Worsley. Whatever the detractors say, you were fighting the good fight.Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2008 04 27 at 05:56 PM • permalink
Sad news about the soldier. Hope his death will be accorded due respect from the left now we have an approved prime minister.
On the subject of KRudd, why wasn’t he at the 7.30am press conference. I’m sure Howard would have been there. Maybe he was still practising being sincere. Expect Rudd will surface about 10am when he finally finishes breakfast.
I am in my mid-60s now…unlike most of you I can remember the Whitlam era…now beginning in my mind to seem a period of cool, reasonable, competent government,with sound and able Ministers working steadily towards the Common Wealth, but above all possessed of rationality and common sense.
No philosopher,I, but passing strange how recent events can effect the perception of past disasters, in an old man’s mind
Very nice Clash reference in the opening line Tim.
Posted by attilathepun on 2008 04 27 at 07:24 PM • permalink
The funding threat to La Mama Theatre is a threat to Australian society as a whole, writes Alison Croggon.
Oh, please – I’ve got some time for Alison Croggon (she’s an unrepentant smoker, and wrote some tough reviews of Hannie Rayson), but the typical La Mama audience could fit in a phone booth. I’ve seen more people standing round a dead snake.
Bloody ‘ell. I take a couple of days off and Blair’s got a dozen posts up. Dismay indeed! How can I keep up with some “witty” repost to every post…. perhaps it’s best just t osit back and enjoy.
One of the pleasures of this site is the wit and wisdom of the readers. No earnest abuse as in the lefty sites.
Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2008 04 27 at 07:43 PM • permalink
Folks the ABC link is in relation the Luke Worsely who was killed last year. Our latest soldier killed was Lance Corporal Jason Marks aged 27, married with two children.
My condolences to his family, rest in peace.
Posted by deadparrot on 2008 04 27 at 07:59 PM • permalink
#27 Thanks Dead Parrot. My link and info at 17 was incorrect. This is a correct link.
Married with two children. Damn.
Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2008 04 27 at 08:10 PM • permalink
“we came up with quite a lot of substantial suggestions for policy, and our aspirations were rather different to what was eventually posted”
Following are some examples of substantial suggestions and eventually posted:
Our government must rob the rich and give to the poor. A labour government shall not do much.
Our gvernment shall enforce Kyoto with a humungous carbon tax, making evil cars obsolete. A labour government shall not do much.
We shall halt trade with the undemocratic Chinese until they free Tibet. A labour government shall ensure a free Tibet in every box of cornflakes.
Our government will immediately declare the republic we were so wrongfully denied in the sham referendum. A labour government will definitely leave this in the outback.
Our government will give us huge amounts of money so we can put on plays and TV programs and write poetry that no one wants to listen to. So, what’s the diff here? You’ve already got the ABC. Labour government policy will not change.
Tim Blair, and that Australian C of E Imam Bishop thingy, who persist in asserting so-called “Western Values” will be taken out and excoriated. The Labour government will not change direction.
Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2008 04 27 at 08:20 PM • permalink
#31: Don’t sweat it, Wimpy. Just when you think you’ve got the Ozzies nailed down as manlier (or more womanly, as the case may be) Brits, who have been roasting themselves under the antipodean sun and grilling kangaroo steaks on the “barbie” for the last couple of hundred years, they go and do something mischievous like drop the ‘u’ from ‘Labour’, spelling it the American way. It’s just their frisky sense of “humour”.
“The funding threat to La Mama Theatre is a threat to Australian society as a whole, writes Alison Croggon. “
I completely disagree. Instead I think the lack of funding, *substantial funding*, by Australia of *me* is a threat to the whole of Australia society.
Come on! Face it! You blokes down under ant to finance my lounging by the poolside. Right?
Right?
Hello? Is this thing on?
Posted by memomachine on 2008 04 27 at 08:51 PM • permalink
“Creative Stream” …..
Does this first require the unzipping of a fly?
Posted by memomachine on 2008 04 27 at 08:53 PM • permalink
Again there should be more Marxist humour. Then the artz would be self-funding.
Posted by stackja1945 on 2008 04 27 at 09:15 PM • permalink
The funding threat to La Mama Theatre is a threat to Australian society as a whole
Um, consider me uncultured, but what and where is this La Mama thing? Sounds to me like an Italian bistro in Leichhardt.
Posted by mr creosote on 2008 04 27 at 09:51 PM • permalink
Just went to the la mama website and checked where it has “funding” as one of its hot buttons.
Nothing under the link at all… Is that in anticipation, or because they are so crap no-one sponsers them?
Latest production “Haneef, the interview”…Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2008 04 27 at 09:58 PM • permalink
- #39 La Mama Theatre is a Melbourne business located at 205 Faraday St Carlton VIC 3053 specialising in Theatres.
La Mama Theatre was established in 1967 to nurture new Australian theatre practice and has since played a vital role in the development of the Australian…Posted by stackja1945 on 2008 04 27 at 09:59 PM • permalink
Labor lost its u under the sacred tree.
Posted by stackja1945 on 2008 04 27 at 10:03 PM • permalink
#37 Epstein and Secord script again.
Posted by stackja1945 on 2008 04 27 at 10:19 PM • permalink
- Application for an Arts Grant:
Who Doesn’t Love Kittens?I paint kittens every day;
Some are straight and some are gay,
But they get along okay;
Please, I need a raise in pay.Lately, just to make it scary,
I include my puppy Larry;
Larry is not ordinary
And he makes the kittens wary.Though I bask in critics’ glory,
They won’t buy my inventory —
Larry’s pictures are too gory;
Send me money, end of story.
I have said my bit elsewhere, so forgive from leaping straight into this moron.
PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd said the public should be prepared to hear about more Australian troop deaths from Afghanistan.
from:
What a wanker. I’m sure our troops over there just love hearing their PM talk about how more of them are going to die.
Total moron.
Idiot.
Not to say disrespectful to the reason for his “speech” (he had it prepared of course – can’t trust himself to speak from the heart), being the lost digger, and injured mates, is now overshadowed by his bignoting the risks, as if he would have known about it without a briefing.
I’m so ashamed of him.
Why should more diggers be killed now? Has he changed the ROE without telling us? What does it say now?
“You can only open fire when you see the whites of their eyes”.
Tool.
Condolences to the family. I hope his kids grow up proud of what he did and what he represented – hope for lots of other kids in Afghanistan.
Posted by mr creosote on 2008 04 28 at 12:13 AM • permalink
“I was at the Summit, in the Creative Stream. There was general and deep dismay about the report that was handed up on the supposed fruits of our labour. Quite a lot was lost or altered in translation. In fact, we came up with quite a lot of substantial suggestions for policy, and our aspirations were rather different to what was eventually posted.”
It’s a good thing the IPCC reports on global warming were prepared in an entirely different way than this and were not subject to these sorts of political influences and distortions. Oh, wait…
- Dear Mister Rudd: An Artist Offers
His Vast Oevre of Big-Eyed Kitten
Masterpieces for Sale to Government My kittens have deep, mournful eyes,
Enormous for their body size;
They follow you around the room
Unblinking kitten-eyes of doom.I have made plenty, hang them please
Wherever you have employees
That you no longer can abide
And want to drive to suicide.
- Here’s some creative writing from an alleged historian:
So what we’re left with in the New Right telling of our history is some really pretty whacko ideas, and because the New Right is fundamentally ahistorical, that there are so few leading well-regarded New Right historians. It’s not as if we’ve sluiced out all the conservatives and got rid of them all, it’s rather that it would be very hard to be a New Right historian and take history seriously as a discipline, because history as a discipline makes a whole lot of assumptions about the way in which societies work and seeks to weave patterns and order with interest in the individual, with characters, with agents of various kinds and social groups. So those sorts of categories fall out of the New Right agenda.
You’ll have to go to Bolt’s Blog to see who it is.
#59 Burchett and Aarons children continue too.
Posted by stackja1945 on 2008 04 28 at 08:57 AM • permalink
#25 “…the typical La Mama audience could fit in a phone booth. I’ve seen more people standing round a dead snake.”
You’re right cuckoo, a dead snake can provide days of amusement. You can keep it in a jar or drape it over a fence. Everyone can take a turn poking it with a stick. Well, we did as kids.
If only we knew you could get funding for performance art, it would have paid for neapolitan icecream for the entire neighbourhood. And naturally I get the chocolate flavoured third of the container, vanilla and strawberry for the rest of you.
The unity and goodwill that radiated from Kevin Rudd’s 2020 Summit last weekend have evaporated…
…like a puddle of piss in the Great Sandy Desert. Well, what did they all expect? Did the “creatives” really think that even Rudd was going to be fool enough to give them the keys to the treasury? The only issue that seems to have had any success is global warming, concerning which the earnest thought waves of the attendees were so intense that it’s now snowing in far-away Minnesota in the springtime.