The Culture of Resistance Response

In response to Derek's blog, The Culture of Resistance (May 11th), which reflects on Aritha van Herk's article, Who You Callin' Cultured, I must say that I agree with essentially every point that he makes regarding Alberta and it's social tug-of-war with the arts and what is considered by the average Albertan to be 'art'. The title itself, with it's intentional use of slang (Callin'), the reader is made aware from the get go that Albertans are not necessarily the most cultured citizens. It's not that we don't have every opportunity to attend museums, concerts, performances, etc, but rather the conundrum is why DON'T Albertans attend such celebrations of art?

But with every additional class that we debate the definition of what 'art' is and where we can find it, it has challenged each of us to challenge our own preconceived notions as to where we can find art, and what art we're looking for. As Derek touched on, we are a culture of hockey, oversized vehicles, and general rowdiness that is anything but refined, let alone considered to be 'high culture.' But when a serious message needs to cross the public spectrum, there is a rising number of people and groups that work towards penetrating the silence and spreading public awareness. Such groups, as Derek mentioned, are the Garneau Sisterhood, Community Response Project, etc. As van Herk mentions within her article, as an artist in Alberta joining forces with other artists, they "nudge Alberta with sarcasm and laughter and tough critique, even if Alberta turns a conveniently deaf ear." When reading this article a second time, I recalled once hearing the expression, 'there's truth in jest.' By agitating and rubbing Alberta's stubborn 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' mentality, an artist here may be able to cause enough friction to receive a reaction.

Our culture here is one that revolves between hockey in the winter, basketball in the spring, construction in the summer, and back-to-school blues in autumn. This consistency has made it easy for us to fall into our routine without so much as a hiccup. But when culture makes an attempt to crack our seeming ignorance towards it, culture does not always come out on top. van Herk asks the question, "how much does art reveal about our dark side, our intolerance, our oblique cruelty, our dismissive ignorance of those in trouble and marginalized?" She touches on our day to day hands on culture that consists of our constant involvement with nature and sports, farming, fishing, and family traditions. But it is her statement that in regards to our culture, albeit how unrefined it may seem to an outsider, that "it may seem quotidian, reductive and even embarrassing in its rather raw utility, but it is a culture." Whether resisting, accepting, ignoring, or embracing our culture... it's just that. A culture. And our interaction with it may be intense, or minimal; but regardless, every Albertan takes part in our culture, and every Albertan has the possibility of being able to change it for better or worse.

Bibliography

van Herk, Aritha. Who You Callin' Cultured. Alberta Views Dec 2005/Jan 2006.