Gender and The Media

The London Public Library recently hosted a seminar for National Literacy Week entitled "Media and Gender." The workshop assesed the position of women in the media and how sexism is still relevant today. Anti-feminist representations can be overt, covert or embedded... and each style has its own effects on women today. After my eyes were fine-tuned to the role gender plays in our community I began to assess the performing arts agendas within London. On the most recent cover of of The Beat magazine there is a picture from a production of "The Producers". A very sexy Ula is wearing a snug white dress and two suited-up business men stand alongside her. Should these sexy images of women in non-authoritative roles be so casually mediated? Probably not. The problem is that "The Producers" has existed for many years, and the creator Mel Brooks has decided on the message of the play. If we are to change the appearance of women in the media, can we keep showing plays which have sexist implications? Probably not all of them. I didn't even realize the implications of this photo right away. People have become desensitized.
At The Grand Theatre this year, the season mainly features male protagonists and heroes. For example, Sherlock Holmes, Frodo Baggins, and Joseph (from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat). All of these males have male counterparts and confidants, such as Dr. Watson, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, and Josephs 11 brothers and the Pharaoh.
The only real female portrayal is of Shirley Valentine... a less-than-inspiring middle-aged woman who is going through a mid-life crisis. Where are the women ole models?
We need to keep a closer eye on media and the portrayal of women in general, or we are doomed to remain in unequal territory.

The National Theatre of the World!

The Grand Theatre recently invited the National Theatre of the World: Impromptu Splendor into their McManus Theatre. Their concept is to improvise a play using the style of a popular playwright. On the evening I arrived they chose to mimic Tennessee Williams. They used actual recent events from within London and incorporated them as themes in their play. Impromptu Splendor entitle their one-time masterpiece "Stuck Behind a Train" to satirize the never ending persistence of trains in London. A disastrous family drama unfolded full of mendacity and issues such as drinking, betrayal, and gun violence. The show was a riot. The entire audience was howling with laughter. I was surprised and delighted to see how many people in their early-mid 20's attended. London's comedic niche is difficult to place, since YukYuk's hosts (usually) more crass humor directed toward males and Western students sometimes find it difficult to branch off of their campus. I found Impromptu Splendor refreshing and delightfully reminiscent of The Second City (a personal favorite of mine).
As for advertising, The Grand Theatre website had a lengthy promotional video to showcase their talent. The tickets were reasonably priced at $20 each... but they added a special $5 off promotion as the date neared. It is interesting that I did not see any ads in The Beat or Scene Magazine, probably due to the fact that their promotion of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat takes priority.  The library notice boards did host one of their posters. I hope that as their reputation builds, people will come to recognize their name and demand will increase. Humor should be more prominent in the city. For example, The Grand Theatre and The Palace Theatre both feature seasons full of mystery, adventure, and drama. Londoners need to laugh. After emerging from the darkness of the McManus, I felt refreshed and ready for anything. Theatre directors should make a point of comedy and the beneficial effects it has on audiences.

"That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet": Adaptability in the Classics

William Shakespeare is a classic playwright who is featured in theatres across the globe. The Stratford Festival of Canada was opened because of a need for Canadian art (as outlined in the Massey Report). The founders decided that performing the classic Shakespearean plays would be perfect for all who lived in Southern Ontario. The Stratford Festival is held in high esteem today because of the quality of shows performed. Audiences love Shakespeare and being part of a(n elite) cultural heritage.

My question: Is Shakespeare relevant today?

My answer is no. It actually makes me feel guilty to say that, as if I have betrayed something sacred to me. As a lover of performance art, I have Shakespearean prints framed on my walls and the collected works on my bookshelf. I go to Stratford every year to see a performance of "The Merchant of Venice" or "The Taming of the Shrew"....but my answer is still no. Times have changed, and although I love watching the performances they do not effect how I make decisions or my choices. The word relevant means: applicable, appropriate, suitable, or fitting. The characters acted "suitable" to their situation based on the time. I would never take the morals of a Shakespearean story and apply it to my life because they are so vastly different. Ethics have changed, and society has changed. For example, I would never cross-dress to disguise my identity from someone (much less a duke), or demand a pound of flesh for my own personal vendetta. These solutions would never come to pass. I am also not a royal and do not foresee a problem when dividing land amongst my daughters. I do not etch the name of my beloved onto the trees, for fear that the City of London would arrest me for vandalism to the "Forest City". I have never been shipwrecked or stranded on an island with magical beings (though I think it would be enlightening), and I will never consider suicide for the loss of a new lover. I am too level-headed for that.

It could be argued that the lessons learned from these acts are relevant, for example that the Shylock is fighting prejudice and he is strong-willed when fighting against oppression. Or that the good will conquer evil, and fools often are the most intelligent people around. However, I think there are clearer examples from more recent plays that would be better suited for today's diversity issues. If your father was killed by your uncle, perhaps you could debate whether or not to kill him and drive your girlfriend crazy, but that's a bit extreme- don't you think?

Evolve or die. Shakespearean plays have been adapted into movies that resonate better with modern audiences. Below are some examples of film adaptations. Please note that other adaptations for the stage, novels etc. have been made.

The Taming of the Shrew- "10 Things I Hate About You"
Twelfth Night- "She's the Man"
A Midsummer Night's Dream- "Get Over It"
Romeo and Juliet- "Westside Story", ("Twilight")
Othello- "O"
Hamlet- "The Lion King"


Shakespeare's stories can be made relevant, but their original forms are irrelevant.

All art must eventually adapt, especially if it expects to reach audiences and stay current. It is important to understand where such films came from. Shakespeare should be taught because his plays are globally accepted as part of the cannon of important works. We must make Shakespeare relevant, and not just accept that everybody should know his works.

Me Too!

Let's face it. We are living in a post-modern world with limitless opportunities to recreate the world we live in. There are amateurs lurking everywhere. The Internet has made it so that anyone can have access to expert advice and be open to mimicry. Youtube has spawned many prodigies and copycats... many posers and wannabes. The popular League of Extraordinary Dancers is a dance troupe composed of self-trained dancers who posted themselves on Youtube! They are an amazing troupe. One of the dancers has currently been cast in the television series "Glee". More than ever, people have the ability to choose what they watch and what they spend their time doing. They can be an amateur who is taken seriously in the professional world. Or better yet, they can become professional by their own merit. London is full of talent... just look! It's written on the wall.

This graffiti is a clear mimicry of "Starry Night". This artist felt that they could put their own spin on the painting... and they were right. No one stopped them. There is such talent scrawled on the walls of London, ON.

What is the value of this art?

Graffiti artists have talent. They help make London a "Creative City". Asking for nothing in return, these artists share their art freely (whether legal or not is a different issue). Back when marketing and branding first emerged, marketers used to paint on the side of buildings, and then create ads and billboards to share their product. Anyone can now share their talents with the rest of the world. Its as easy as clicking a mouse and/or finding a building to paint on. This phenomenon is wonderful in the sense that it gives artists free-range to explore their creativity, but it may give marketers a headache when trying to catch their attention.



*beep* WELCOME to the Museum

London has three major Arts Organizations. They are: Museum London, Orchestra London and The Grand Theatre. Each has their own unique mission and has contributed to making London the Creative City it is today. Museum London caters to Londoners by making their work and the communities heritage openly accessible. Admission to the museum is free! This is an amazing idea from an arts advocate point of view. Art is for everyone and it should be readily available. The museum relies on government grants to sustain itself and therefore citizens of London are already "paying" for the service. The problem here is that I didn't know it was free for the 4 years I was living in London! Clearly, there is something wrong with that picture! The museum is living in a bubble. Only a slice of London attends... and I am unsure as to who their target audience is. So now I'm thinking- "How can this situation be remedied?"

I have to say that the best arts resource is The London Public Library- hands down. It is so accessible and it is an amazing service for the community. The Library (like the museum) is free... so why couldn't the museum get membership cards? Let me explain why this membership cards would be beneficial.

1. The museum has no way of accurately tracking who is coming into the museum. Membership cards will track their business.
2. It will help track donations. People could donate online via their membership account.
3. Membership cards could help foster a sense of commitment to the museum and pride in the facility. Membership cards are tangible and may act as reminders that there is a museum tucked away at the fork of the Thames.
4. The members may get special discounts (to the gift shop or restaurant) and may feel like they're special and that they're getting a deal. People love rewards.
5. When signing up for a membership, applicant will provide email addresses, and so they can be used for marketing purposes later.

Museum needs a following, a club, a sense of community. I realize membership cards would take time and money to implement, but in the long run it would make a marketers job a little bit easier.

I would get a card.... would you?

~Caught in the Web~

I often find that arts marketing is stalking me. Just today I was in my bedroom reading The Globe and Mail online and whilst on the lifestyles page an add for a painting contest interrupted my reading and my mouse became like a paintbrush, scrawling ink all over the text. "Paint your way to NYC!" it said. If i could paint, I'd be all over it. I love Broadway as much as the next theatre enthusiast (maybe more) and I would love to see the shows. How is it that marketing has become so intrusive?

Today in class, we were discussing the concept of marketing performances via facebook and google. Did you know that market researchers can buy key words, so that anyone who types in "glee" resides in London, ON could see the ad designed for that target market? The internet opens up a world of possibilities for promoting and the younger generations are more apt to enter their darkest secrets onto the web with the touch of a keyboard. Facebook and blogs are no longer considered weary threats to personal security anymore... but a medium for expressing yourself. Dangerous or not is irrelevant. Just this morning as i was cruising my facebook profile I saw that 3 ads were chosen specifically for me- Soulpepper Theatre, The Stratford Festival, and a random ad for shoes. Clearly, someone knows my priorities (minus the shoes, I'm more of a purse person myself), and it is truly frightening that I could be targeted so carefully.

From the marketers stance this is golden. It is so easy to be accessibly to people who share an interest in the arts. The Grand Theatre uses this method to capture audiences. I think it could be a great way of dealing with the problem of aging audiences. The average subscriber is 60 years old! As the baby boomers continue to age, the arts could be suffering for audiences. It's time people put more value into their culture.

This photo was taken in the Summer of 2010 at The Ex in Toronto. The art is formed with sand. I think it symbolizes the tragic decaying state of audiences... but perhaps that's a bit melodramatic :)

Using online tactics is a great way to attract younger, and more technologically savy theatre enthusiasts. It is smart, concise, and it could be the best way to market to younger audiences. The web will continue to expand and hopefully marketers can use it for the greater good! Save the arts!

Blog me about it

When I was in Seoul, I spent all of my spare weekends seeking out something exciting and new to do. While in a foreign country I thought to myself, "You only live once!" I barely had to try to find new things. As a foreigner, everything you encounter is new. I went see The Nutcracker, The B-Boy and the Ballerina (as seen above), the Whitney Houston concert, countless museums, palaces full of beauty and architecture, the DMZ, a butterfly festival, a boat cruise along the Hangul, the Lotus Lantern parade, a Buddhist retreat, and I spent lots of time at amusement parks. The information for events is always out there. We just have to look for it. People need to get curious about their cities and embrace what is going on within them. Where has their craving for adventure gone? Some people are all too comfortable to stay indoors and watch television until their eyes roll inside their head. What happened to fun, free, curiousity? My enjoyment was a mouse-click away. I found two useful blogs which told me anything I wanted to know. Blogs are the best way to communicate to the new generation of techies and avid adventurers.

Here in London, most of the advertisments I see are stapled posters on the light poles of downtown, or in Scene Magazine. Culture Days was not a success, and I'm sure many events pass unsatisfied in London. I have found a few hotspots for London's art scene, but they are both websites...

http://www.londonarts.ca/Default.aspx?Select=Events

http://www.londonfuse.ca/

These sites are interesting and provide great information, but where are the blogs? Who is recording what is happening in London?

I know, I know, London is not as big as Seoul- but I can't help but notice a lack.

Instead of companies sending emails which say "Invest now" or "Buy tickets" it may be more better to make communications more personal. Promoters need to build a relationship with audiences. Blogs are interactive and easy to view. They take time to establish, but they could be worthwhile.