So I shrank away into my own world, behind closed doors, trying to make the cultural milieu of TT more ready for world consumption.
... I try to help other local artists – both performing and visual – to understand how to approach their craft and how to approach the management of it. And for decades I’ve listened to scores of erudite, well-paid analysts at cultural conferences wax intellectual on what is needed.
I’ve made a few of those presentations myself (rarely for payment, might I add. In fact, I’ve often had to pay to participate). I’ve heard politicians outline strategies for diversification into the arts sector. I’ve seen private and national organisations dedicated to the development of the arts come and go. And I’ve most certainly seen the persistence of dysfunctional ones.
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Well I TOOK AH CHANCE and ah WENT IN AH WHENSTEEL DANCE -- SONJA BRUCK DEM UP!!! SONJA BRUCK DEM UP!!! 18,000 THOUSAND (WHENSTEEL TALKS MEMBERS) was DANCING and SHAKING DEY BODY LINE -- when SONJA BRUCK DEM UP. NOT AH MAN DECREE when she EXPOSE THE HYPOCRISY!!!
18,000 MEMBERS on THIS FORUM and I am THE ONLY ONE who understands THE ROOTS of SONJA'S BOLDNESS!!!
"I therefore get the distinct impression that we might have to wait for another generation or two to grow to adulthood before the arts are taken seriously as a regular profession."
Is SONJA saying that we have to wait 20 to 40 years for the CULTURAL TADPOLES to turn into FROGS?
And how many times have I said that all the OLD EXPATS (Excuse me: IMMIGRANTS) are going to DIE and leave things JUST AS THEY ARE?
Lord: I thought that I was the ONLY ONE with a CRYSTAL BALL ... but SONJA make meh LOOK SMALL!!!
This is the most CULTURAL FUN I have had in a VERY LONG TIME. If a musical composer in Trinidad could take Sonja's words and prose and appeals and introspection and snits and feeling of cultural alienation -- and convert it to a MUSICAL EXPRESSION which captures the essence of the TRINIDAD MELANCHOLY, that composer could create a piece of GLOBAL MUSIC that could touch hearts AROUND THE WORLD.
“how Sonja could tell dem [WHENSTEELTALKS MEMBERS] dat”
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Part One
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Part Four
I must have read this article about 10 times today, mostly because I am so in love with her WRITING STYLE. (Or should I say MASTERY!!!) And when it comes to CONTENT, I can FEEL HER PAIN. And her message is BOLD and UNCOMMON!!! Not to mention that it is refreshing to know that I am NOT THE ONLY ONE who could view THE CULTURE from the OTHER SIDE OF THE BANK!!!
I’ve heard politicians outline strategies for diversification into the STEELPAN sector. I’ve seen private and national organisations dedicated to PAN PROGRESS come and go. And I’ve most certainly seen the persistence of a dysfunctional STEELPAN GOVERNING BODY supported by both the GOVERNMENT and STEELBAND PLAYERS.