A few thoughts based upon experience, in response to the proclamation that the Music Recording Industry and The Movie Industry are “Pro Free Speech.” Please read/see latest developments regarding Internet Censorship.
What follows is based upon remarks made by my father (a music publisher) and time spent transporting a Julliard teacher (Davis Schumann) to the inaugural opening of Yale’s Electronic Music Studio.
Both detailed corruption in the publication of intellectual property. Instead of the gory details: stolen copyrights, bribes, kickbacks and/or the egregious censorship enforced on the motion picture process. I will give you a thumbnail of my conversation with Mr. Schumann during our one hour trip from Stamford, CT to Yale University.
As a teacher at Julliard Schumann was enthusiastic about liberation from the recording industries strangle hold on the publication of music. In this case I refer to complex musical structures, think/hear, symphonies and large ensemble work. The potential he described became true for all arts and the quest for knowledge. The computer made it possible to write and record music synthetically. The Internet, introduced much later, made the genius of creative people instantly communicable.
An important, to me, point: Creative people generally begin with an idea and whip it into form. At which point, in order for it to be published, one had to beg, borrow or steal the attention of sponsors and orchestra directors . . . the list was seemingly endless and the cost to the artist in non creative time, was significant and difficult. Especially given the fear of rejection we all have.
I see, hear and read genius/talent everywhere I look. Yet wherever I see it I also see the lack of an audience, absence of acknowledgement and affirmation. In terms of creative democracy the Internet is it. Television once held a similar promise but become commercial to the extent that creatively was filtered through conglomerate owners or sponsors agenda’s having nothing to do with free speech. Especially when it, potentially, impinged upon profit. From my vantage point I consider commercial broadcast televised news irrelevant. Even more so since Rupert Murdock and the ‘powers that were or be’ allowed consolidation of venues to reside under one umbrella. One tyranny?
“To Serve & Protect” is a common motto for law enforcement organizations. I ask who are they serve and protect when they kill protesters, either in America or abroad. The motion picture decency board does virtually the same thing with censorship not with lethal force excluding the obscenity of violence and romance/love/attraction as the sale of products. (An afterthought: think about the film “Precious” as counterpoint to the soporific pap and swill making so much profit that the vested money makers will steal our right of access to everything other than their product.)
I see profit in truly free speech for all people. An opportunity to access an education above and beyond vocational training; learning to think and formulate participation, independently well informed. Manifest is an opportunity for diverse views and choice; informed consent, participation in the process of governance. The absence of which is becoming violently apparent.
Everything is process. The collapse and decay of what democracy promised is accelerated by what we have; a population and nation going to hell in a hand basket for the pleasure and desire of 1%. Not democracy but oligarchy and at that a political system ruled by wealth buying the votes of politicians whose sole intention is to get reelected.
This is not an argument we can boycott or walk away from, though the former is attractive and effective. We must participate in any and all measures to retain, if noting else, our right of descent. Behind the scenes legislation is being considered to accuse and confine anyone causing the establishment displeasure. Thinly disguised as subversion with the hot button issues currently in play. Is the cure not worse than the disease?
I have many questions with no specific answers. However I imagine a far greater possibility if and when we work together to take back our governance from political hacks. Why do they continue to award themselves with raises and lifetime security while stealing ours?
--Jean Giraudoux (1882 - 1944)
'The secret of success is sincerity. Once you can fake that you've got it made."
--Marshall McCluhan (1911 - 1980)
"Politics will eventually be replaced by imagery. The politician will be only too happy to abdicate in favor of his image, because the image will be much more powerful than he could ever be."
“There is absolutely no inevitability as long as there is a willingness to contemplate what is happening.”
