-Post Script Opinions “being able to function as human ~ Planet of the Arts Volume 7 Issue 6 —-Hate by Terrence Dawes This week, the week after International Women’s Week, served to remind everyone here, whether they were paying attention or not, that language, carelessly used, hurts likea fist. It also served as a reminder that in this year, which marks the five-hundredth anniversary of Columbus stumbling upon America like a greedy child, the ancestors of the people who took over this land (ie. you and me) are about as ass-backwards and ignorant as we ever have been at any time in our history. We are ignorant in dealing with the new continent and we are ignorant in our dealings with each other. You can find evidence of this on TV, from the mouths of Pat Buchanan, Preston Manning, or David Duke, or you can find it just as easily on the bathroom wall, scrawled there by some mealy-mouthed weasel who didn’t even have the guts to sign his or her name. What amazes me personally is how things like this start out. First we hear rumbles of discontent about graffiti in the bathroom. You can go from there to the events of last week when Maurice Yacowar had to defend himself and the college from accusations of racism, sexism, homophobia, a condescendingly patriarchal and colonial method of teaching, and worst of all, apathy. It seems as if the moron graffiti artist opened a wound of almost incalculable depth, causing a chain reaction of opinions and hurt feelings which have been boiling up with no vent. The only thing that amazes me more is the all-pervasive apathy which inhabits the student body and faculty. A lot of students feel that they do not have the time to devote to matters of politics. So what are the solutions? Quotas? Should we hire X number of minorities and X number of women? In an ideal world, that idea would be reprehensible. It’s straight out racism and sexism in page 18 Is run largely ON tne tuIION Lees Of Students. It $ OU Money. It § Important inal we lake an interest in telling them how we want it spent. This should be occuring all the time, not just in times of crisis. You don’t wait until a case of cancer becomes untreatable, you take preventative steps to stop its spread. Anyway, this is a lot of speech and grief to go to because of some stupid graffiti. I’ve heard a lot of people say, “What’s the big deal? What is everyone so upset about?” Language. Careless use of language. The trick now is to avoida backlash. To blindly say that this institution is racist, sexist, homophobic, and patriarchal to the core is not true. It isalsoa vast generalization. No one comes out of the chutea racist. No one is 100% sexist. People aren’t that simple and to pretend that they are only serves to alienate the ones that we should be trying to convince. Hate and cynicism are the easiest feelings to express. Whether you’re looking at Preston Manning talking about neo-fascism or some angry left winger screaming about “Smashing the State,” you may not like your bedfellows, but we have to live in the same community. The only way to be able to live here is through understanding and compromise. That means you have to stop looking at the world with a political agenda in mind. The world doesn’t know politics from Adam and it doesn’t know what hate is either. -Ego trips by Alison Abell It’s 9am and as you're trying to fight off the morning drowsiness with a little caffeine, you wonder if you can bear to sit through another one of these sessions. Yes folks, put on your armovi and brandish your weapons, because it’s time for... THE CRITIQUE! Abhhhh !!! After having attended Emily Carr College for almost two years now, I’ve learned a few important things: keep an open mind, be receptive to suggestions, learn your creative process, and most importantly be able to put up with and dish outa little “bullshit” now and then. Alas, in the microcosm called Art College, the key to personal survival is having good eyes and ears and a BIG mouth. Failing to possess any of these could result in bodily harm. But let’s be serious, you really do have to be receptive and responsive, otherwise how could any of us stand to put up with lengthy critiques consisting of ego trips, battles of the sexes, reading too much into works, and people going off on tangents. And whether anyone likes to admit it or not, each of us partici- reverse. But in the real 1992 world it’snecessary. Fire has to be fought with fire. It’s nota good idea but it pates in the game, and I’m sure eve- ryone’s felta little cynical about it at one time or another. deals with the reality that we’re faced with every day in terms of just DOWN THE STREET FROM MY House IN VANCOUVER THERES THIS PLACE. beings. The reality is that because of the fact that I am another white, North American male, I have crossed the first and greatest hurdle What all of this comes down to is how we should approach art, and the - importance of having a firm grasp on whatever it is that you are pre- senting to fellow artists and the gen- eral public. Obviously, there is no formula for making art, it comes in ON THE FLOOR 1S ABOUT 1” OF coo. | inthis society. AllIhavetodonow | is produce some work of passable | |CAN YELL & SCREAM AT THE | |THE PEOPLE ARE HILARIOUS; YOU||EVEN THE OWNERS DONT CARE. [my REPLY SuUPRISED EVEN me. | EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE Time PINBALL MACHINES AND NO-ONE | |WiHEN I GOT CARRIED AWAY. all shapes and sizes, but itdoes seem to be important to possess a certain WE -E-E-€-EY , cmon AINT MAD AT quality and I know that I will be SEEMS TO GIVE A DAMN. amount of responsibility and genu- accepted open-armed into the cul- ture. If] was a woman, that would be considerably more difficult. Another thing that amazes me is that people don’teventually gettired of saying, “Another film by a white, North American male. Great! | can’t wait to see it! Let’s take the kids!” I’m amazed there wasn’t a revolution four hundred years ago on the basis of mediocre, homogenous culture alone. People in general and the students of this college in particular have to realize that nothing will change if they are not passionate about what they believe in, passionate 10 the point of engaging in constant debate with the people in power as well as with those around them. Passivity and silence are ways of not participating. They arealso ways of allowing your power as a citizen in a democracy to be used by someone else as a means of speaking on your behalf. When David Duke and Preston Manning speak, they believe they’re speaking for the silent majority, for the people who couldn’t even be bothered to register to vote. They sincerely believe that! If you a=: |NVAP AT ~ don’t want to participate that’s fine, but please be realistic about the effects of your passivity. There are more political opportunists out there than ever before, opportunists who subscribe more to the teachings of P.T. Barnum than to the belief that government should be responsive to the needs of people. Yet another thing that amazes me is that people pay their taxes to the government and then hope to be left alone for the rest of the year, participating in the affairs of government as little as possible. And then they just whine about how lousy things are, how the government doesn’t care. The same thing happens here at this college. Students pay their tuition fees and then...who cares? “Leave me alone! I need to be alone with my art work! Nothing is more important than my art work!” This college HE-E-€-© -EY! WHATTAYA pon’? ITS LIKE YOUR 4 THE MACHINE? OR SomeTHIN’. INE MACHINE. ineness regarding what you do. Oth- erwise, everyone would be throw- ing anything on the floor, wall (what- Sea 4! ever) and calling it ART. Unfortu- Away, ED) nately, there’s no shortage of the =o gh wapp_ alter going on in the art world, but as artists we do have to be aware that everyone is going to interpret a work of art through different eyes, and so it’s vital that consideration be made as to the possible effects the work(s) may have on others. Now can’tbe telling you anything new, but I sometimes wonder, as I’m walking through the halls at school or sitting in a critique, if perhaps we sometimes forget our consideration and responsibility. For instance, if any one of us is going to critique a work of art in a group situation or comment book etc., shouldn’t we as individuals first be able to critique or explain/comment on our own work? It seems too easy totake apart the work of others before looking at our own. And it’s also too easy to become lost in our own beliefs, so that instead of approaching a work of art with an open mind, we bring “baggage” with us which might drastically alter what we feel about the work. It is this kind of action that provokes misinterpretation which leads to heated arguments consisting of a variety of accusations. And by the end , what has been accomplished? The result is most often far removed from where the discussion began, and the atmosphere is laden with frustration and animosity. So while we should be responsible for our own work, at the same time we should also be responsible for what we say regarding the work of others. Maybe it would be a good idea to pinch ourselves occasionally , so as not to forget our duty as artists and why each of us is attending art college in the first place. And while we spend our time getting lost in arguments, it might be wise to stop for a second and take a good look at what’s going on around us. True, discussions can bring up interesting points and can help one’s debating skills, but it’s possible that our energy might be used more efficiently if we carefully examined what it is that we're really saying and doing. @ -Post Script Opinions Planet of the Arts Volune 7 —-Hate by Terrence Dawes ‘This wee, the wek afer Intemational Women's Week, served to remind everyone here, wheter they were paying tenon ont, at language cles sed, hs ikea fis Italo served asa reminder that inthis year, which marks the five-hundedth anniversary of Columbus stumbling upon America ike a pred child, the ancestors ofthe people who ook ver his and (e.youandme) are about as asthuckwards ad ignorant as weever have ben at ny time inourhisoy. We are ignoram in dealing With the ew continent and we ar ignorant in or dealings With ach ober. You can find evidence ofthis on T, from te mouths of Pat Buchanan, Preston Mansng,o David Duke, or you cn ing it juss easly nthe tathzoom wall, scrawled hereby some mealy-mowhed weasel who dnt even ave the gusto sign is or her name ‘Whatamazes me personaly show things ike thisstat ou Fist wehear rumbles of iscoment bout raf inke uhroom. Youcan go fom terete evens of last week when Maize Yacowar hal to defend himself andthe college fom accusations of rac, sexism, homophobia, 2 condescending pact and colonial method of aching and worst ofall, apathy. I sems si te morn rat anit opened wound of almost incalculable depth, causing achinreaction of opinions and hut feelings which have been boiling up with oven. Te only thing that amazes me mre isthe all pervasive apathy which inhabits the student tbody and faculty, oto tude fe that they donot have the time o devote to rates of pois. So whatarethe solutions? Quoas? Should we hire X numb of minorities and X numberof womer? In an ideal wold, that idea would be reprehensibe.I's suaigh out racism and sexism in reverse. Butintheseal 1992 world i’snecessuy Fire hastobe fought wifi. I’snota goodie butt deals with the realy ht we'e faced withevery dyintemsofjut tring able wo function as human | ‘beings. The realy is that because of be fc that [am ante wie, Nonth American male, 1 have cused he fistandgreesthudle inthissociey.AllThvetodonow Issue 6 page 18 ‘sun largely on ne won Les oF SOEs. 1s our Money. IS Mponant nat We Le aninires in eling hem how: we want spent. Tis shoud be ocuring all thetime, no justintimes of rss. You don't waituntila case of cancer becomes untreaable, you ake reventaive steps o sop its spread. ‘Anyway hiss alt ofspech and pie to go to because of some stupid graffi. I've heard alot of people say, "What's the big deal? What is everyone so upset about?” Language. Caelssuse of language. The ricknow istoavoida backlash Toblinly say that this institution sacs, sexist, homophobic, and patriarchal tothe coe is not ue. It isalsoavas generalization. Noone comes out ofthe chutearaist. Nooneis 100% sexs. People aren't that simple and o pretend that they are only serves to alienate the ones that we shouldbe tying to convince. Hate and eynicism are the easiest fectings to expres. Whether you're looking at Preston Manning talkin abou neo fascism or some angry let winger screaming about “Smashing the State,” you may not ike yourbedellows, bu we have to lve in the same community. The only way tobe able to lve here is through understanding and compromise. That means you have to stop looking atthe word with a polical agenda in mind. The world does't know polis from Adam and it doesn't sow wha haste. -Ego trips by Alison Abell i's 9amands you're ying fight off theming drowsiness witha caffeine, you ‘wondrifyoucan bear ost tough another one of these sessions. Yes folks, ptonyour mou: and brandish your weapons, ecauset'stime for. THE CRITIQUE! Abi! ‘Ate having tended Emily Cart College fr almost vo years now, I've leeds few important things: keep an open min, be receptive to suggestions, lem your creative proces, and most impo beableo pu up wih and dishout ite "blshit” now and then ‘Alas, in he microcosm called Ant College, the key to personal survivals having good eyesand easanda BIG mouth, Flingtopssssany of these coud esl in bodily ham. Butk'sbe serious youreallydoavetobereeieand responsive, cterwishow could any ofus sand putup wih ent criqns consisting of eg rips, ates of the sexes, reading to much nto works, and people going off ntangents. And wher anyone likes to iit ito not, each of usp patsintke game, and I'm su eve- ‘yon’ sll yncaabout iat ne time or another. ‘What al ofthis comes down ois bow weshould approach andthe imponance of having a firm grasp ca whatever iis that you ae pre- | senting tofelow ans andthe gen cra public. Obviously, sere iso formula for making a, it comes in {is produce some work of passable ‘quality and I know that I will be allshapesandsizes,buitdoesseem tobe important io possess acer amount of responsibilty and gene- accepted open-armed into the cu ture, If wasa woman, hat woold be considerably more diffcul. “Anolhe thing that amazes me is thatpeople don'teventualy getired saying, “Another fimbya whit, Non American mle. Great! 1 cant waito seit! Lets tke the ids!” I'mamaze there wasn'ta revolton four ‘hundred years ago one basis of mediocre, tomogenous culture lone. Peoplein general andthe students ofthis college in pantculrhaetoreaizehat nothing willchange ifthe are not pssionate about what they belive in passionate tothe pont of engaging in constant debate withthe people in power a wells with ‘hose aroundthem. Pasivity and silence are waysofnotpaticipating. They arclso ways of allowing your power asa citizen ina democracy to beusedby someone ese as ameans of speaking on your behalf. When David Duke and Preston Manning speak, they believe they're speaking forthe silent majority forthe people who could't ven be bothered to regis to vo. Thy sincerely belive tat! If you ont want paiciate that's fine, bt please be reaisicabout ihe eects of your pusivity. There are more political opporunists out thee than ever before, ‘opportunist who subscribe more othe eachings of .T, Barnum than tothe elie that goverment shoud be responsive tothe nets of people ‘Yet another thing that amazes mes that people py theiraxestothe goverment and then hope tobe lef alone forthe est ofthe year, participating in he afar of governments litlea possible. And then they jut whine about how lousy things arc how te goremment doesn't car, The sm thing happens bere at hs college. ‘Students ay triton fesand then..who cares? “Leave me alone! Ineed ibe lone withmy an work! Nothing ismoreimporantthanmy ant work!” Thisollege = : 2S ineness regarding whatyoao. Ot wise, everyone woul te throw- inganythngonthefloor, wal what ver and cling it ART. Unforu- rately, there’s no shortage ofthe lane going on inthe ant word, but as artists we do have tobe aware that everyones going o interpreta work of art trough ifferent eyes, and sits itl hat ‘consideration be made as othe possible effects the work(s) may have on hers. ‘Now [can tbetlingyouanyhing new, but sometimes wonder, as I'm walking trough thehallsat school or siting ina crue if perhaps we sometimes forget or consideration and responsibly. Forinsance,ifany on of wsis goin to criquea workof an ina group situation or comment book et, shouldn't we as individuals fist beable 10 critgue 0 cxpainvcommenton our own wrk? Iiscemstoocasytotakeapattheworkof others before Joking at ourown. Andit’salsotooessy to become lst nour own belies, so thatinsiead cof approaching a work of ant wth an open mind, we ring “baggage” with us which might rasicaly alter what we feet about the work. Ii his kind of action that provokes rmisiterprettion which leads to heated arguments consisting of a variety of accusations ‘And bythe end, what has been accomplished? The result is most often far removed from, whee the discussion began, andthe atmospheres laden with raration and animosity, ‘So while we shouldbe responsible fo our owm work, athe same time we shuld als be responsible for what we say regarding the work of thers. Maybe it wouldbea good idea topinch ourselves occasionally, so as motto forget our duty as aris and why each of us {is auendng a colege in the fit place. And while we spend our time geting losin argumenis, it might be wise io stop fora second and ake a good look at what's going on ‘round us. Truc, discussions can bring up intresting points and can help one's debating skills, ba it's possible that our energy might be, used more efficenly if we carey ‘examined what is that we're really saying and doing, Gy (a Seah Wary