article19 Posted October 23, 2004 Share Posted October 23, 2004 Hello Folks, we like to keep you up to date with what's going on Europe side so here are some new pieces on Article19. Later today we will also have a new video feature from a brand new contemporary company. Editorial: What Does It Matter? Article19 argues the case for why the arts are so important to us and to society in general and just why people who think otherwise are at best, short sighted and at worst, complete fools. http://www.article19.co.uk/editorial-whydancematter.php Feature: Capture 2 Reviews. Capture is Arts Council England’s (ACE) scheme to get more dance films out into the world. Since Article19 doesn’t do reviews we asked our friend Jordan Kinsella, a US based independent film maker and writer, to give the Capture 2 series of films the once over. http://www.article19.co.uk/feature-capturereview.php Interview: Siobhan Davies Along with Richard Alston Siobhan Davies is one of the most well established and experienced choreographers working in the UK today. She was there at the start, in the UK at least, so we had a quick word! http://www.article19.co.uk/interview-siobhandavies.php Video Feature: Full Force 'Headcase' After many recent misfires with dance performances we have been covering Article19 ventures about as far south as you can get (Portsmouth) to bring you an excerpt from "Headcase" by brand new company Full Force. http://www.article19.co.uk/feature-headcase.php We would particularly like to hear your comments on 'What Does It Matter' Thanks (PS: For our American friends, don't forget to go vote!) Link to comment
Alexandra Posted October 23, 2004 Share Posted October 23, 2004 Thanks for the update, Article 19! I think you raised some excellent points in Why Does It Matter? If I could change one thing in society today, it would be the notion that "if it doesn't matter to ME, if I can't relate it to MY life, then it's not worth my time." But everything in our culture reinforces that message: children of a particular targeted ethnic group read only books about their own group. Boys would die rather than read a book about girls. Self-help books replaced the novel long ago. Etcetera. In America, dance groups have started trying to justify their efforts by saying they're an important part of the economy. They employ x number of people. Ticket sales generate tax revenue, etc. I don't blame them, but it's so sad. I'm teaching dance history this year, and just finished the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Louis XIV believed that dance was as important as his army, and treated it so. When you have taste and money and belief, the artists will come. And the audience will follow. (This is probably too elitist an argument for many, but why not have them do something worthwhile that we can emulate?) One of the problems is that there's no arts education. People aren't taught to look at dance. They aren't taught anything about it -- it may as well not exist. So many will look to content only -- dramatic, thematic content -- and not have the skills to deal with abstraction. So of course it's boring to them. It's not about today's headlines. It won't help me get ahead at work, or deal with my boyfriend or girlfriend. So how do we change this? Link to comment
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