On the question of dumbing down the arts, one entry sticks out in my mind- Ballet of the Speedway. Roanoke Ballet Theatre presented NASCAR Ballet five years ago. I had a number of conversation with arts managers over this–whether it is pandering or a frank acknowledgment that the arts must serve their community. I am still not sure I have a definitive sense of where I stand on this.
More Roused Passion
by:
Joe Patti
Well I am pleased to learn that my “best of” revival of my April 2005 entry about Neill Roan’s handling of the antisemitism in Bach’s St. John’s Passion has moved Neill to repost the talk he had given on the subject. If you were intrigued by the coverage I gave the incident in my entry, you will likely find it worth your while to read the entire thing. It is really an excellent study in engaging your audience amid controversy.
Still Wondering How We Got Into This Mess
by:
Joe Patti
One entry I have consistently linked back to over the past 5 years is a summary I did of John Kreidler’s “Leverage Lost: The Nonprofit Arts in the Post-Ford Era.” Kreidler’s piece provides a great history of how the example of the Ford Foundation shaped the way the current model of funding of non-profits emerged.
Read my reflections in How Did We Get Into This Mess and maybe you will want to take the time to read Kreidler’s longer piece.
Keeping The Passion Alive While I am Away
by:
Joe Patti
Because the conversation on my last entry has been so active, I have been reluctant to make any more entries and remove it from the top of the page. The fact that I was making entry sized responses contributed to the lack of additional material as well.
Now that things have calmed down, I am on vacation and don’t have time to write much. I don’t want things to settle too much in my absence so I am providing a link to some of my “best of” entries. The first, appropriately enough entitled “Rousing Passion.”
Neill Archer Roan gave a speech, unfortunately no longer available on line, where he talked about his experiences presenting Bach’s St. John’s Passion and the complications surrounding the work’s perceived anti-Semitism.
There is a lot to think about.
Enjoy!
http://www.insidethearts.com/buttsintheseats/2005/04/19/rousing-passion/
"Though while the author wishes they could buy it in Walmart..." Who is "they"? The kids? The author? Something else?…