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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | cpeel@killertracks.com |
| Subject | Re: Artists and Protest |
| Date | Thu, 27 Mar 2003 18:38:34 -0500 |
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Good point, Jocelyn.
I can't be so sure she didn't mean it. I can't know what she thinks, really,
because the two public statements we're talking about were contradictory
(the initial quip and the apology). What I do know is that the quote was put
forth in an informal setting, while the apology was made in a formal, or
"official" setting meant to tell the world she did not mean it. She was
clearly not prepared for the shitstorm "making a statement," could be
expected to bring. I also know that, at least for most singers, between song
banter is usually meant not to make statements, but to build a rapport with
an audience. To give it more weight than that is generous. Hence my point
that I doubt she meant it as a "statement." Though I grant you that I could
be wrong on that. Maybe she did mean it as a statement. But the evidence as
I interpret it suggests otherwise. And I brought it up only because it was a
point of view that seemed to be both valid, and so far unstated in the
debate. It had nothing to do with being a woman and everything to do with
being a singer. Was not meant to diminish what she might think, but to show
how hard it is to argue about quotes taken out of context, and yet how very
vulnerable artists are to people doing just that, and it affecting their
already fickle audiences, and therefore their livelihoods.
I defend her because I believe that 1) every American citizen (even a
celebrity) has the right to criticize our President, 2) an artist's very job
and duty is to comment on the world around him or her, but that 3) judging
by Natalie Maines' reaction to the whole firestorm it caused, her own shock
and awe if you will, it didn't appear she meant it to be a statement, even
though that's how it's come to be taken, not by people who were there, but
by people who've been talking about it out of context. It was not an
anti-American sentiment, like Clear Channel is reacting to, but was a bit of
audience rapport. Me trying to imagine the proper context, hopefully doesn't
diminish what she really thinks, which, as you pointed out, I can't know.
Like I said, artists are very vulnerable to the fickle sentiments of their
audiences. She is now getting bad mouthed on both sides, from those who
think she should have never said it, and those who think she shouldn't have
apologized for it. All because her words were taken out of a concert setting
and put in the mouths of people who weren't there and would never even
bother imagining the context or giving her the benefit of the doubt. But
thanks for bringing it up, because it does give me a chance to be more
clear, and I can see how you'd react that way.
Can we be friends now?
Carl
Jocelyn wrote: "~~~~how can you be so sure she didn't mean it?? i
think that's diminishing what she might actually
think. i worry about this sort of thinking,
especially because she is a woman.
oh silly thing, she didn't really MEAN that. "
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