Comment 71039

By Bumper Music (anonymous) | Posted November 04, 2011 at 14:47:07 in reply to Comment 71038

Tucked into the CBC schedule this fall are programs to celebrate CBC’s 75 birthday. That’s the thing to note, I think. CBC has been with us for three-quarters of a century and in that time one of its primary achievements has been support, funding and showcasing of Canadian artists of all stripes. No more. Now it supports cover versions of tunes from classic-rock radio. In 75 years it has morphed from a cultural institution to a glorified karaoke club.

Who knows what aspects of the past CBC will choose to celebrate. But I am reminded of one CBC moment. In November, 1994, CBC aired a prime-time special, Salute to Dancers for Life. The dancers in the special – Karen Kain, Veronica Tennant, Evelyn Hart, La La La Human Steps, Les Grands Ballet Canadiens and the Danny Grossman Dance Company – represented the very best and most innovative in Canada. As a TV spectacle, it was magical and moving.

It was the first tine I saw Margie Gillis perform. She did a solo work, Torn Roots, Broken Branches, to the music of Sinead O'Connor's I Am Stretched on Your Grave. It was a gut-wrenching, visual and tactile threnody for friends who have died. The combination of elements – the dance, the music and a blood-red background – was provocative and profoundly effective on TV.

You know, Battle of the Blades and Cover Me Canada are tinpot TV things. Flibbertigibbet fare. CBC is entitled to air both and good luck to it. And yet: Is that all there is? CBC is choosing past-it NHL’ers, Don Cherry and Nicole Appleton over the like of Margie Gillis. Just a sliver of space for art would be nice.

Over on Sun News, Krista Erickson mocks what she doesn’t understand and resents paying for. At CBC the position is to simply ignore art and artists such as Margie Gillis. But, as we are constantly reminded, we all pay for the CBC. In so doing, why are we paying for a broadcaster that seems to see Canada defined by hockey and classic-rock radio? That’s not all that we are and if we’re going to be flabbergasted by Sun News, surely we should be flabbergasted too by the CBC? A fair question, I insist.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/television/john-doyle/cbc-television-from-arts-champion-to-glorified-karaoke-club/article2056554/

Permalink | Context

Events Calendar

There are no upcoming events right now.
Why not post one?

Recent Articles

Article Archives

Blog Archives

Site Tools

Feeds