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Artists Vs. Critics
Topics: theatre, arts, theater, artists, critics, criticsm, reviews, Bakersfield, theatre addicts, Culture
Posted by theatreaddict Fri May 11, 2007 16:27:08 PDT
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0 responses 4 comments When Chris Page was the Californian's reviewer, I recall feeling sorry for him on multiple occasions.  I'd witness some blowhard director attempting to give him hell for "snubbing" his or her beloved play.  They'd leave a scathing voice mail or write a really nasty letter to the editor.  Sure, CP reviewed three plays this month, but he missed the most important one!  MINE!  Then, if he did do a writeup and noticed a few imperfections, suddenly he didn't know what he was talking about.

But Chris held his own.  He created his own boundaries to keep relationships from becoming too incestuous or abusive in either direction.  He insisted on paying for his own tickets, lest "freebies" be used as leverage.  He'd quietly pay for his entrance, watch the show, take notes, and that weekend his take would appear in the paper.

It almost seemed a bit silly to me that he took such lengths to remain unbiased.  I remember when he was kind enough to come watch an original version of Cinderella that I had written and directed for the kids at BCT.  He came to a Thursday dress rehearsal, quietly picked up a cast list, and was on his way.  He wasn't at all chatty and seemed to prefer to focus on his own experience, rather than listening to a director ramble on about their inspiration and brilliance for hours.

How smart was this guy?  He dealt with criticism, kept relationships with his subjects of review at an appropriate distance...AND managed to appear in the one-acts at Phoenix without taking too much shit for it.  He did his job.

After Chris's departure, the arts community encountered growing frustration with media coverage.  In recent year the Californian has gone through staff changes like Kirstie Alley and dress sizes.  A new eye street editor here and there, "entertainment reporters" coming and going.  It was hard to tell who was going to be covering what, or if the Californian planned on reviewing theatre at all.  To confuse it all, there is never really a direct answer on good authority for any question.  Does the paper care about the arts?  Even if the question is asked with good intention and no attatched emotion, it can be taken as an attack.  Are there plans to assign a permanant reviewer for music, theatre, and what not?  Again, sometimes we just want to KNOW, and sometimes defensiveness creates tension.

Danielle Belton entered this "fray" with good intentions.  Her time in Bakersfield came to an end last year when she apparantly suffered some kind of mental breakdown.  Along the way, I know that she took her share of crap...bore the brunt of some frustration for the Californian's lack of communication when questioned about it's competency in covering arts & culture...  But what caused which?  I feel for the girl, I really do, but I also feel that there is a lingering implication that we (local artists, musicians) are partly to BLAME for her downward spiral.

Recently an anonymous MySpace account popped up.  Its creator, dubbing him or herself "Brutally Honest Arts Bitch," made it sound as if some kind of THEATRE MAFIA would hunt down and kill anyone who DARED to criticize overly sensitive, demanding, whiny artists.  Said of Danielle:

"She was constantly harrassed by the arts community to write on this show or that and the poor girl never got a moments peace.  She told me her phone never stopped ringing and she actually felt as though she was being stalked.  On top of that she was constantly assaulted with false flattery and people pretending to be her friends.  The people she did allow into her life she felt a obligation to speak kindly of their work even if they didn't ask for it."  (Source)

It begs a serious question.  Was Danielle Belton really harassed and assaulted by a mob of inconsiderate culture nazis?  OR was she simply unable to handle the demanding position of entertainment reporter and the personal and professional challenges that come along with it...?

I ask these questions with no venom intended.  I mean to truly consider them.

We all know there are complete assholes who perform in bands, paint pretty pictures, act and direct.  We all have people inside and outside of our arts community home that we absolutely cannot stand.  Journalists and other media-affiliated persons are in the public eye, whether it's on TV or named in print.  People have access to you.  The assholes, too.

Do I envy them?  Of course not.  Those streets are complicated.  As with theatre, it's business and pleasure.  It's a job and it's entertainment.  It's following your dream, and fulfilling a quota.  Sometimes you will pour your heart into something and GET PAID FOR IT!  Other times, you will be forced to kiss the ass of someone while holding back a vomit caused by your conscience.

It seems to me that there is a bit of paranoia and personal weakness, at times, tied into viewing the public this way...that is, seeing local artists as thoughtless bullies who want nothing more than free publicity.

I confess, I sincerely feel for Danielle in all her trials.  As a person, I respect and feel for her.  But I must believe that part of the cause of what happened comes down to an inability to deal with challenges of her position in a professional way.

Or, as others have pointed out, not so much.  On the other side of the coin, maybe this anonymous myspace person is full of crap and exxageration.  It's been said by actual people with names and lives that Danielle never had that much of a problem with any of it, she did her business and clocked out.  What the heck, do we NEED something to argue about or what?

Let's put the drama (har har) behind us.  Forget about the times that theatre lovers went over the top in their bitching for coverage, and we'll forget about the times the Californian has talked down to us.  (Jenner:  I've learned that no matter how much effort we invest in some local topics, it is never enough to satisfy the ardent participant.)

Mr. Jenner, that is bullshit but it's a time for healing so I'll forgive you for saying it.  We are not unreasonable.  It is enough when qualified journalists NOTICE art and music from time to time and write about it.  It's great, and you are doing a good job.  Yes, a new day has come.  David Burger is on the job.

Yes, the time will come when someone calls him a moron or complains because he didn't review this or that.  But take it from me, Californian staffers who won't read this, we're happy.  For now.

That just leaves "Arts Bitch."  Who cares, right, it's just a MySpace blog.  But I'm curious.  What reason have I to be offended?  I may not be happy (angry?) until I know.

Is it:

A:   Really an "outsider" who doesn't know any of us, who knows their stuff and is truly offering unbiased criticism for the benefit of all mankind...

OR

B.  A chicken-shit theatre geek who made a new myspace to say cruel things about his or her friends.

???????????

What a surprise, I'm irritated either way.

Maybe it's true...we really are a bunch of fickle die-hards, impossible to please.  We hounded Danielle Belton to the breaking point and we never appreciate the publicity the Californian blesses us with.  On behalf of theatre addicts everywhere, I'm sorry!!!

Fuck that.  People need to stop taking all of this so seriously.  Me included.  We're passionate, get it?  It doesn't mean we're irrational, but we can be.  Don't write us off just because of that.  Think of us as your crazy in-laws.  Yeah, we're family like that.  A bit crazy at times, but you'll never get rid of us...so play nice.

And don't forget that word.  Play.

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Comment From: Thesilenceclub

:) Comment From: twinkie

Much ado about nuthin'. I read more whiny blogs about the theatre crowd than positive ones. It makes my head hurt. I need a Twinkie. Oh oh... I better retract my statement or I'll start getting death threats like everyone else who's dared say something bad about the theatre pepes. Didn't they get mad at you once too, Aaron? The sad thing is, I've actually gone to a few shows and enjoyed myself. Theatre pepes need to network outside their little group and stop worrying about reviews and take it into their own hands like Julie Jordan Scott and N.L.Belardes and The Dalloways, and Soulajar and Hectic Films and The Silence Club . Those people know how to self promote without seeming jaded and whiny about the lack of support. (yes, PEPES.. it's my Mexican Twinkie word for peeps.) I wish that anonymous myspace person luck with her/his "reviews" but who's really gonna read them other than the theatre people themselves? Comment From: matt

Being passionate about something you love so much tends to bring out some serious emotions as you can see. Comment From: twinkie

I can completely relate. I am VERY passionate about twinkies. And ho-hos. And beer. aaaah beer!