Apr 19
The 2020 Summit
Watching 2020 today was depressing.
The joy at Howard’s political demise was, not unexpectedly, a short-lived euphoria. I quite like Rudd, if only for the fact that he is an unashamedly intelligent man and intelligence is not a much loved quality in Australian life, but the 2020 summit didn’t feel like “a breath of fresh air”. Yes, it had a very different atmosphere than anything that would have been possible under Howard, but all I was left with was a feeling of frustration, and worse, disillusionment. Not disillusionment with the government which, in my opinion (I’m a philosophical anarchist), has little to offer anyway but with the complete lack of ideas.
Philosophical anarchism isn’t about storming parliament or violent revolt (though I understand the inclination): It’s about organic change which renders our current political structures obsolete. It’s about building alternative ways of doing things. It’s a positive philosophy, a humanist philosophy. It is optimistic about what humans are capable of.
And it is independent.
2020 is supposed to be about ideas. And there were none. Each “stream” - health, the arts, etc - came back with the same tired thoughts. We should set up a commission, an independent body, an “insert new political job title here”. We should educate the public about… And as my particular anarchism has always been somewhat socialist, I hated the voice in my head which was getting angry that no one could think of any way to improve our society except having the government spend money. And my sense of social justice hated that I don’t care whether or not there are indigenous representatives on every art board even though I am fully aware that if the government “makes it so” it won’t do anything to put indigenous art “front and centre”.
Indigenous art will never be front and centre. Art will never be front and centre. And should “cultural production” be in the government’s domain anyway? I hated that the majority of my thoughts in response to what I was hearing sounded like right wing echoes. Why should the government prop up the arts, I thought. Surely, if the arts cannot maintain themselves, our society is bankrupt anyway. And does art really flourish under the aegis of bureaucracy? I don’t think so.
I don’t want the government’s fingers in every aspect of our society. I want a society that can support itself, that wants to support itself. Today, I’m disillusioned by seeing how much it doesn’t want to, how much it thinks everything is the government’s responsibility even to the point of choosing what food we eat (banning “unhealthy” food was one suggestion).
As far as I’m concerned, if we must live in nation states and pay our taxes to them (and for the foreseeable future, we must) then they should provide healthcare, education, social security where needed and maybe some infrastructure.
Then they should fuck off.
I can’t remember who said it, but if man is incapable of ruling himself, he is surely incapable of ruling others. I always thought that, maybe, one day, ruling ourselves we could manage. Today, everyone abdicated. Today, everyone was a child looking to an imagined parent to orchestrate their lives. Obviously when someone envisages a world of adults that isn’t the greatest thing to watch, but worse than that, today I couldn’t even register the potential for it.
And I don’t know what that says about me and my “optimism”.
[Note: This is really not a balanced explanation of my political stance - Rather, it is just a tired response to a moribund event. ]
April 20th, 2008 at 8:47 am
I’m so glad you saw it too. I’ve asked around and it seems no one else did! I only saw the first hour of the arts forum. Like you, despite their - I’m sure quite genuine interests - I ultimately saw a lot of talking heads. Peter Garrett said no ideas would be left behind/lost. Mate, they ALWAYS do, no matter how well intentioned they are. I saw Rachel make that point about indigeneous representatives on every board etc and while that may be great in theory, would it really change anything?
Then, as a pop culturalist by degree, part of me bristled when one speaker said our talented youth should have better venues to express their voices than on Australian Idol. Sure, it’s not the best but it’s something.
I just worry they think too high-brow, when most assuredly a lot of people aren’t that high-brow (when it comes to art at least?)
I’m just throwing it out there. I’m not really too sure myself yet.
April 20th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Well said my lovely. The little I saw had me rather disappointed. Same old, same old. And will it really achieve anything? That remains to be seen.
MPS was rather excited about the HECS reduction if the specialty is taken to a regional area in need. But that could be because we are in a regional area
And Karen, don’t get me started on the abomination that is Australian Idol OK? Cause I feel I will lose a LOT of friends… LOL.
April 21st, 2008 at 12:37 am
Good heavens, do people actually watch Australian Idol? An abomination, eh? That could be interesting after all.
April 21st, 2008 at 1:01 am
@ Karen - The tension between the inclusiveness of all forms of art, pop culture included, and the historical elitism of art was quite apparent, wasn’t it. The intentions, I think, were there but the language just wasn’t. I don’t think we’ve learned yet to see art and artists without hierarchy. Personally, I’m not a fan of much pop culture but I don’t think my personal tastes are indicative of what is valuable. Obviously, pop culture has a lot of value. In fact it is possibly of greater importance, when you consider the impact of “pop” art on society which is far-reaching, unlike alternative or “high” art which has a trickle down effect.
Like you - I’m just “not too sure”. But I feel better that I wasn’t the only one to find it somewhat depressing.
@ Kelley - I actually think the HECS reduction for working in rural areas was one of the few decent ideas too. Practical, but not interventionist. Again, happy to be joined in my misery.
@ SnakyPoet - Lol. Yes, people do, and just to be the high-brow elitist cow that I really am, I’ll suggest that it is the same people who buy annoying ring-tones.
April 21st, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Interesting.
I didn’t expect much from the summit anyhow. Just more of the have’s figuring out how to skew the system more firmly in their favour or to support their personal agenda’s.