spring 1998 / planet of the arts 3 An emerging artist reflects on the sources, obstacles and context for trying to locate passion in contemporary society. Why A World So Apathetic? By Jessica Joy Wise f you are not apathetic then are you revolutionary? To be apathetic is defined in the dictionary as ‘to be insensitive to suffering; to experience a passionless existence, and to exhibit a lack of interest or desire? Are we apathetic or are we just not suffering? When talking about apathy are we concerned with the relationship of the individual to the rest of society or of the individual in relation to themselves? From the moment the umbilical cord is cut we struggle to return to a place of union with something other. We desire to alleviate our suffering, our disconnection, by associating to something outside of ourselves. Some people become religious, or activist or even nihilists. Whatever it may be, the intent is the same. We all wish to manifest an identity that is neither dependent on nor independent from the greater whole. We want to be individualistic and communal all the same. We want to care for other people and we want to take care of ourselves. Apathy begins as a struggle for the individual with issues of identity FEATURES 1 Marc Hébert Will printmaking make it to the next millenium? planet ofthe QrtsS ___ From the Block to the Pixel in a cultural context. Therefore apathy becomes a struggle between the individual and society. By society’s standards an active person is one who participates as one among the greater collective. For example, the student body makes up a collective. Do we feel like a collective? Within the student body itself there exist smaller linked groups. The Queer Alliance, the Student’s Union Executive, the Planet of the Arts, the Intermedia Department; all these stand as representatives of a larger body of persons. These alliances create space for people to represent them- selves. It is important for people to have a voice. It is important for people to unite to acknowledge a unified identity. The greater the numbers the greater the voice. These groups are important, but it is also important to point out that to signify within the student body fractures unity by setting boundaries. Departmental divisions and political alliances divide the basic unity that we comprise as stu- dents. We are all here learning how to express ourselves. No matter what medium or what the subject matter is, we all hope to get to our deeper selves. As students of art we are a collective. We all see in var- IDENTITIES 15 ious ways and therefore we will teach each other to see in new ways. In effect, to create a smaller collective within the student body sug- gests that everything that is not part of this collective is outside of it. People get excluded. The individual questions her/his identity in light of the collective of which s/he does not feel a part. The individ- ual struggles to determine how and where s/he fits in. The collective should be in place to pull people together. Often however, the col- lective ostracizes the individual. Apathy occurs because the individ- ual feels out numbered by large alliances. S/he feels no affinity for a large body of people. As such, the individual loses her/his passion towards active participation. We do not want to take responsibility for our passionless exis- tence. We are afraid to experience antagonism. The average person is afraid to direct hostility towards anybody else whether it is their next of kin or that nameless/faceless infrastructure called capital and cor- porate. Most of us do not know how to get angry. Lots of us do not know how to show love. This is in the everyday. We lack passion. We continued on next page... see “Apathy” Differences (and sameness) in the social world. 33 “That's me there!” Rand Berthaudin Constructing self-identity through the snapshot. PRACTICE 21 The doings of creative people. 39 Questioning the Institute's Scholarship Process Tara DeLong Do ECIAD scholarships reinforce economic inequality? SERENDIPITOUS SPACES 29 ») Fleeting intersections of the imagination. Dharma & Goliath Western photography and the campaign for a Free Tibet. COVER 5 Planet of the Arts is published by the ECIAD Students’ Union Association. Our publisher's address is: Room 122, 1399 Johnston Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6H 3R9. CULTURAL DIALECTICS 33 Our culture is your culture — visual and written essays. THE INSTITUTE 39 Happenings at Canada’s vanguard school of visual art, media arts and design. Editorial and advertising sales access is available as follows: tel: (604) 844-3861 fax: (604) 844-3801 e-mail: poa@eciad.bc.ca http://www.eciad.bc.ca/~poa spring 1998 / plonet of the arts 3 An emerging artist reflects on the sources, obstacles and context for trying to locate passion in contemporary society. ba ES Why A World So Apathetic? By Jessica Joy Wise ina cultural contest Therefore apathy becomes a strugle between ious ways and therefore we wll teach cach other to sce in new ways, the individual and society. In effect, to creat a smaller collective within the student body su you are not apathetic then are you revolutionary? To be By society's standard an active person is one who participates as gest that everything that isnot part ofthis calletve is outed of apathetic is defined in the dictionary as'to be insensitive to_one among the greater clletive. For example, the student bo People get excluded. The individual questions her/his identity i suffering: to experience a passonless existence, and to makesupa collective. Do we feel likea collective? Within the student light ofthe collective of which shed not ela pat. The individ ual struggles to determine how and where she Students Union Executive, the Planet ofthe Ants, the Intermedia should bein place to pull people the individual tothe rest. Department; all these stand as representatives 0 to themsches? exhibit a lack of interest or desire Are we apathetic or are body itself hee exist smaller linked groups. The Queer Alliance the isin. The collective We just not suffering? When talking about apathy ate we Often however, the col a larger body of lective ostracizes the individual. Apathy occurs because the indivi. represent them: cerned withthe relationship of society or ofthe individual in rela the persons These alanes create space for people ual els out numbered by large alliances. S/he feels no affinity ‘moment the umbilical cord i ut we struggle to return toa place of large body of peor selves Is important for people to have a voice. Its important for e- As such, the individual loses her/his paso union wit something othe. We desire to alleviate our sufering, our people to unite to acknowledge a untied identity. The greater the tomarde active participation aconnesion, by associating to something outside of ourselves. _ numbers the greater the voice. These groups are important, but itis. We do not want to take responsiblity for ur pasionless ex: Some people become religious activist or even nil, Whatever" also important t point out that to signify within the student body tence: Weare aad to experience antagonism. The average person is it maybe; the intent ithe same. Weal wish to manifest an identity fractures unity by setting boundaries. Departmental divisions and aad to direct hostility towards anybody ese whether itis thei next that is either dependent on nor independent from the greater politcal alliances divide the basic unity that we comprise a st ofkin or that namlesfacesinfrasrucure called capital and co whole, We want tobe individualistic and comm allthe same We dens, We are all here learning how to express ouricves. No matter poate. Most of us donot know how to gt angry. Late of us donot want to care fr other peopl and we want o take care of ourselves, what medium or what the subject matter, weallhope to get to our Know how to show lve. This is inthe everyday. We ack pasion: We Apathy begins asa struggle forthe individual with issues of identity Aeeper selves. As students of art wear a collective. Weal sein va. planet ofthegrts FEATURES 24 From the Block to the Pixel Marc Hébert IDENTITIES 15 inthesocal werd 7 : PRACTICE 24 “That's me there!” pend es “The doing of creative people: ae Canario he apt. Senenpierous spaces 99 as A be Wil prinumaking make ito the next millenium? 39 Questioning the Institute's Scholarship Process Tara DeLong DeECIAD atelier cm ey oy i ae ae ie ioe cia > eae cOvER 5 Dharma & Goliath eres Pilg yak i THe mstiTuTe 39 ‘Happenings at Canada's ‘vanguard school of visual ar, media arts and design Planet of the Arts is published by the ECIAD Students! Editorial and advertising sales access is available as follows: tel: (608) 844-3861 e-mail: poa@eciad.be.ca fax:(608) 844-3801 ht: clad. be.ca/-poa Union Association. Our publisher's address is: Room 4 1399 Johnston Street, Vancouver, 8.C. V6H 3R9.