There are some truly tremendous authors and artists and musicians doing remarkable things mate. The problem is the recognition isnt there for their genius. Like others say, we would rather applaud televised karaoke on a saturday night.
The whole thing is absolutely beyond belief. As you don't watch TV you probably wouldn't believe me if I told you about a typical programme. The public watch in their millions, week after week, while people bake cakes. They go to each other's houses to 'watch better', argue about the contestants on social media and cry at the end. They never actually learn anything or bake the cakes. "You coming down the club?" "Might do, what's on?" "There's a bloke baking scones." "I'll get me coat."
It’s chicken or egg though, if there’s no genuine love of art less people will be exposed to it and less people will create it. Contemporary writers and artists are vastly less talented than 100 years ago.
I once saw a David Bowie interview when he said something that stuck in my mind. When he was asked what influenced him and drove his creativity he said 'Boredom'. He was living on a council estate with nowt to do so 'bought a guitar, learned to play, etc'. Kids, these days, are never bored. Not their fault but they have music on demand, football on their phones, endless chit chat and 'friends' they've never met. I'm not immune ... I go to matches, alone, on the train and put my earphones in, listen to music and post on here. At one time I'd have happily chatted to people but I gave up because they were always working on laptops, talking on phones, or whatever. It's called progress, I'm not convinced.
I am not so sure mate. People are too easily saturated by social media, influencers, crappy tv. Where are the channela for genuine artists, authors, songwriters? Too many channels equals dilution. My wife and I go to Stratford a lit for shakespeare. There are some unreal theatre actors and producers. Do they get access to mainstream? No, because that is all about dancing shows or something. Talent is supressed by modern appetite for celebrity. In my opinion. I have read authors that move me like Shakespeare or Lawrence in the modern era. We just need more recognition in media channels to create a platform.
It’s all opinions but when I hear some Wagner for example, I’m overawed but the epic quality of the music, it really is timeless and hardly anything that has been created in the last 50 years gets anywhere near resembling the artistry, beauty and aesthetic quality of it. It’s almost like a lost art, like the concord or something. No one enjoys or aspires to high culture, our IQ is dropping, unless something drastic happens we’re go down watching down syndrome twerking on BGT. Whilst those who rule over us laugh all the way to the bank at our expense.
I think I'd last less time than that! Some of the things she tells me, I just can't believe. She worries about these kids so much and all the time. I worry for her stress levels and even for her general well being. Teachers do an amazing job in such hard circumstances. They're heroes in my eyes.
It doesn't help society that prisons and sentences are lenient. I know a lad, convicted in June last year of being involved in cocaine dealing, the gear was 89% pure with a street value of £500k. At that purity he was clearly quite high up the chain as it would have been sold and cut many times before it hit the average dealer. He got 6 years, at worst he will do 3, he's 7 months into his stretch in a prison local to him with a phone in his cell he can use from 6 in the morning till 11 at night. Access to emails 7 days a week. Next month he's probably being transfered to a cat. D prison, where he will get 2 48 hour passes to go home for the night, as well as being allowed out 5 days a week from 7am till 7pm to 'work'. After 6 months there he will be out full time with a tag for the balance of his 3 years. I go to see him quite a bit and speak to him regular on the phone, to listen to him you would think he was on holiday. Hardly a massive deterrent in my eyes
" ... the overall cost per prisoner was £48,409 per annum." There's your answer. At every Tory party conference they always announce a massive prison building scheme to placate their members ... ... and just like Boris's 40 new hospitals they'll never be built. The 'party of law & order' is the same one currently 'caring for the NHS'.
There have been plans for 2 new prisons in the south west area kicking around for over 2 years now, priced by every main contractor in the world, then it goes quiet, then they are re-tendered as if they expect them to magically to be cheaper. If I had to guess IF they are ever built it will be 5 years time before they are ready amd a lot smaller than they where originally planned
If most 'nasty crime' was perpetrated against those who typically see themselves as Tories things would be different. But because most drug related/poverty driven crime hurts the 'lower orders' it's easier to ignore. There was a recent TV programme devoted entirely to mega-expensive watches being stolen in London. Two major police operations, involving dozens of officers including some working undercover, were mounted. The robberies often involve men leaving bars and nightclubs, in the early hours, and wandering around looking for taxis or another drink. I suspect, if this wasn't the very wealthy being targeted the advice would be, 'Have some sense and don't carry around a £20,000 watch, in the backstreets of a big city, when you're drunk.'
Sorry Smug, but all crime is not political and about the Tories, crime is a personal thing to the individual or the family. I also think you are doing a disservice to the police who do their job with one hand tied behind their back. Why should someone who could afford a 20k watch not wear it. If a person is wearing a £40 pound Timex watch had it stolen, its classed as the same crime, and should be treated in the same manner. The only difference in the crime is the black market value of the goods.
I didn't say it was. And I'm not criticising the police, they've obviously been directed. My point is that the police don't have enough officers to even turn out for 'minor thefts', and burglaries. But two big operations have been mounted, involving many police hours, for what's a relatively rare and easily preventable crime.
And then to make it look like they have struck gold, they actively invite people on with actual talent and make it look like they have just walked in off the street. it's like X factor, all gets scouted, then sent the circuit, given a sob story and pushed out onto the stage to "blow peoples mind". It's all a massive pile of ****.
The likes of Morecambe and Wise travelled the length and breadth of the UK for years performing in Music Halls serving their "apprenticeship" to hone their act before they got anywhere near being "stars" or "celebrities". Today some brain dead "reality" show contestants literally become "stars" and "celebrities" overnight because other brain dead viewers send a text message to vote for them. For instance what is Stacey Solomon supposed to be? She is definitely not pretty, seems to be unintelligent, and as far as I can see does not act, sing or dance. Some females used to make a career from being "pretty", Ms. Solomon hasn't even got that "quality".
