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The Bastardy of Academic Arrogance
Day: The Day the Art Stood Still
Weather: Shit Storm
The shoot for the TV series was as enjoyable as ever. It is always great to be around all the creative people who have a passion for art. We had a blast on set but everything has to come to an end. So back to the 9 to 5 routines again.
Did I mention that the uni library that I’m working at locates on a campus just opposite to my drama school? But of course the relationship, at least for us, just stops there. We pride ourselves as artists not some academic loonies craving for social recognition by churning out papers after papers that have no social significance. To be honest, who the hell cares about a little girl’s diary uncovered during a backyard digging dated from 1820? Of course some academics will say that there is HUGE social significance because it tells us a fragment of what society was at that time. But I am sure that more people care about whether Buffy slay another vampire more than what a little girl ate for breakfast in the 1820s.
Anyway the reason I’m writing this in my diary is that I feel like Australian arts and culture are in serious jeopardy.
To recapture what I am doing at the library – creating an art database for performance and creative art in Australia. This is partly the reason that I’m willing to surrender my actor’s pride to work with Eva Cologne and “Alice the Thunderland”. However my opinion of certain academics hit new low when I met Alice’s bedtime buddy Peter Hellonme.
The meeting was about the direction of the database and how it helps to raise the research status of the University. It was supposed to be chitchat over a coffee or something. Who would have thought that an informal meeting at an outdoor uni café would be more lethal than those in meeting rooms where Eva and Alice repeatedly tried to rip the spines out of each other?
Peter himself looked very decent. Well mannered with respectable Tommy H fragrance (although I did feel he immediately aged the fragrance – I gave mine all away to dad right on that night). The most respectable part was he didn’t try to comb over his balding skull but just shaved it all off. That’s two points for bravery and self-respect. However, my respect for him stopped as soon as he opened his mouth.
He took a sip of his double shot mocha with additional chocolate and cinnamon (cinnamon?) and looked over to Claire and me. “I noticed that the project had progressed significantly after you two joined” Eva was not impressed. She smirked, closed her notebook on the table and folded her arms in front of her wilting breasts. Fumes were coming out of her ears. She was definitely ready to go. Claire and I just smiled politely tried not to unleash hell from Eva.
“I’m sure this database can help to cement our status as the prime research university in performing arts in Australia” he continued “ which will be helpful for us in the future if we want to take over that god damn drama school across the road.”
My jaw dropped. “Taking over the drama school?” I blurted out.
“Yeah, the university always wanted that piece of prime real estate. To be honest, those actors, directors and whatever and whomever they have there are just wasting prestigious land for no reason. They don’t add any value to the academic wellbeing of our young Australians.” He explained with a pride that was shinier than his shiny bald skull under the sun.
“But they produced generations and generations of cultural icons for Australia that have significant influence both nationally and internationally.” I replied. Claire was watching me, fearing that I might tear him into pieces. But as a curator herself when she worked at the British Museum, she could understand my anger to Peter’s statement.
“They are just celebrities to fill and fuel our tabloid pages” He laughed. “But it’s still good because it will add to the name of the university when it became a branch or faculty of the university. That can attract more students and hence increase our funding.” He laughed thunderously that the whole café was shaking.
I was fuming…and am still fuming. Need a glass of icy cold water before I can continue.
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