It was only a few days ago that I made the comment that in many ways Melbournians were living back in the 1950s. We exhibited a marked xenophobia back then (White Australia policy) and we are xenophobic now (mandatory detention for asylum seekers), we loved all the new appliances and technologies from the USA and we race out to get them now.
Our cultural cringe was evident to me even when I was a child. Somehow the 'Paris' end of Collins Street, with its designer clothing stores (emanating from Europe) and cafe culture was all the rage. Even now, the residential development being built on the old Spencer Street Railway station is being referred to as the 'New York end of town', which reminds me, when I was studying painting at RMIT one of the lecturers told me I should feel lucky because my studio, on the top floor of Building Two was like a 'New York loft'. Hey, I wasn't living in my studio and why is New York considered better?
Back in 1963 when the Queen visited Australia our then Prime Minister Robert Menzies quoted the Elizabethan poet Barnabe Googe, by saying: I did but see her passing by, and yet I love her till I die. A similar gushing for a country or person 'we' consider our superior occurred more recently when our current PM Julia Gillard said: There is a reason the world always looks to America. Your great dream – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – inspires us all. Really, does it?
Our cultural cringe - the notion that 'we' Melbournians are not as good as others in the world has been confirmed yet again. Garry Shepherd has just advised me that the Melbourne International Film Festival (boo! hiss! shame on you MIFF!) has NOT accepted his Global Shuffle documentary for screening in 2011, for MIFF is only supporting hiphop and soul documentaries from the USA! I only recently watched Global Shuffle and thought it was fantastic! It prompted a memory piece, which may be found here. Garry also mentioned that MIFF kept his $75 entry fee, which provides me with the opportunity to rail against (though I'll use no expletives) the whole concept of entry fees for art, video, sculpture exhibitions, which by their very design discourage those unable, due to financial constraints to enter such competitions. Entry fees are, in my opinion, exclusionary, elitist and intimidating and probably the most expensive lottery ticket around - you have to make an expensive bet to see if your work is going to be exhibited.
Our cultural cringe was evident to me even when I was a child. Somehow the 'Paris' end of Collins Street, with its designer clothing stores (emanating from Europe) and cafe culture was all the rage. Even now, the residential development being built on the old Spencer Street Railway station is being referred to as the 'New York end of town', which reminds me, when I was studying painting at RMIT one of the lecturers told me I should feel lucky because my studio, on the top floor of Building Two was like a 'New York loft'. Hey, I wasn't living in my studio and why is New York considered better?
Back in 1963 when the Queen visited Australia our then Prime Minister Robert Menzies quoted the Elizabethan poet Barnabe Googe, by saying: I did but see her passing by, and yet I love her till I die. A similar gushing for a country or person 'we' consider our superior occurred more recently when our current PM Julia Gillard said: There is a reason the world always looks to America. Your great dream – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – inspires us all. Really, does it?
Our cultural cringe - the notion that 'we' Melbournians are not as good as others in the world has been confirmed yet again. Garry Shepherd has just advised me that the Melbourne International Film Festival (boo! hiss! shame on you MIFF!) has NOT accepted his Global Shuffle documentary for screening in 2011, for MIFF is only supporting hiphop and soul documentaries from the USA! I only recently watched Global Shuffle and thought it was fantastic! It prompted a memory piece, which may be found here. Garry also mentioned that MIFF kept his $75 entry fee, which provides me with the opportunity to rail against (though I'll use no expletives) the whole concept of entry fees for art, video, sculpture exhibitions, which by their very design discourage those unable, due to financial constraints to enter such competitions. Entry fees are, in my opinion, exclusionary, elitist and intimidating and probably the most expensive lottery ticket around - you have to make an expensive bet to see if your work is going to be exhibited.
A counter-cultural cringe maybe XD MIFF has always had a political flavour, perhaps we weren't oppressed enough, or sufficiently repressed ^-^
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