Rant #2: What is Art?

A couple of months ago, an art show was held at the Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD).  One particular piece was created by a student and shown in the college's cafeteria at lunchtime.  It was a performance art piece, in which the student produced a live chicken and subsequently, killed it.  It is lunch, but is it art?

The student brought in the chicken, stroked it, calmed it down, and then proceeded to slowly slit it's throat.  Once it was dead, he removed the head, washed the body and plucked the feathers off.  His claim is that he was trying to make people aware of where their food comes from.  I don't know about you, but my food comes from Superstore!  Damn.  How thoughtful of this guy to help explain, through 'art' where a chicken comes from.  If he was being really truthful, he should have just scrambled up a couple of eggs.  Everyone knows that the egg came first. Hey Picasso!  I also know that my burger comes from a cow.  I've pet cows, cooed at them, and looked lovingly into their big bovine eyes...not gonna stop me from chowing down at Five Guys.  I am a carnivore! I'm okay with it. 

The college followed up by firing the student's instructor (whom I assume gave permission for this to take place).  Oh snap...huge uproar....discussion on artistic freedom (and probably, discussion with ATA union lawyer), and said professor is re-instated.  Student apparently...scott free range.

I am a big supporter of the Arts and I do believe in some measure of freedom, but not at the expense of a life  or by traumatising innocents who just wanted to eat their poutine in peace.  I also truly believe in freedom of speech, but no sane person will argue that hate propaganda should be permitted.  Why isn't the same principle applied here.  The people eating their lunch that day had no idea what was going to happen and were given no choice in participating.  

Some argue that Art is meant to start controversy and therefore, discussion/dialogue.  To an extent, I do believe this...memorable Art will have one of two effects on you: you love it or you hate it.  But you remember it.  So in this regard, the concept was successful; that doesn't make it right.  

I never have really got the point of 'performance art'.  I would rather look at a painting or watch a play.  If this student really wanted to impress me, paint a picture of a chicken.  Heck, even a picture of killing a chicken.  Heck, even a picture of a big plate of McNuggets; but don't pretend that killing something makes you an artist.  It just makes you sick!

Rant #1: The Senate Scandal

Here we go again!  Another scandal in politics.  This one courtesy of the Senate, and just when you thought they were all pretty much sleeping or dead.  In a nutshell, the scandal involves four Senators,(three Conservatives and one Liberal), the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, a hefty cheque, and a coat of whitewash that would make Tom Sawyer proud.

To further expand;  several Senators have been 'caught' double-dipping into the delicious punch bowl of expense accounting.  Namely, Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin, Marc Brazeau and Liberal Mac Harb.  I find it interesting that both Duffy and Wallin were at one time journalists, who used to go after the previous lying/cheating politicians for the same acts that they are now both accused of.  Both Duffy and Wallin have had questions arise about whether or not they even reside in the provinces that they represent (PEI and Saskatchewan respectively).  The examination into that question perhaps dug up more information than was originally suspected.  Duffy's accounts are seemingly the most creative, because he has frequently been claiming living expenses for Ottawa and PEI, on the same days.  So either he has managed to invent a transporter a la Star Trek, or it would appear that he has been jilting the Canadian people.  He was effectively caught and asked to pay back the $90,000.  He subsequently handed in said cheque.  It has however, recently come to light that he did not actually pay back the money, but rather had Nigel Wright  (Stephen Harper's Chief of Staff) write him up a cheque for said amount, which he then handed over. This money was clearly stated to have been a gift, not a loan. (How do I get on this guy's Christmas list?) Once this fact became known, Wright very quickly tendered his resignation.  The PM is outraged and had no idea this type of thing was going on (behind his back apparently).  Wallin's accounts are still being investigated, and Brazeau and the other guy are seemingly small potatoes.  The BIG story is Duffy.

Result: All 3 Conservative Senators have stepped down from the Conservative Caucus, and are now sitting as independent Senators.  WTF?!!  The RCMP have finally been asked to investigate.  A big report on the whole fiasco has been written by...guess who....other Conservative Senators.  Again...WTF?!!

Let me first point out that this is totally my opinion:  I can't believe that Nigel Wright would write up a $90,000 personal cheque just to help out a poor senator. Especially, without being told to or without the PM's knowledge.  And now he is forced out of the big desk, just because he was trying to be a nice guy.  Either he is the paragon of generosity or else he is a 'patsy.'  Either way, if he can just give away 90K in cash, he may be getting paid waaaayyy too much!  We will have to keep our eyes on Mr. Wright's future, and see if he shows up in some lucrative position down the road.

All of this SNAFU, leads me to ponder a bigger and more complicated topic: Senate Reform or Abolishment?  Which is the answer!  And who is going to have big enough balls to do it!  Stay tuned.