Too often, the phrase “ministry of culture” evokes
the image of a foreboding state department structure
or building that is the gatekeeper of all art that is
acceptable and non decadent, perhaps cultural
expression that fortifies the state position against it’s
mongrel opposition, say running dogs of Yankee
imperialism, or the axis of evil; jingoism for all.
Well, we certainly need to change that perception
don’t we? We are also struck by the idea that a
ministry is a pulpit, from the rank lunatic on a wooden
box in Times- Square to the cathedrals of excess that
remove all doubt God is good, God is great, God is a
capitalist.
No. Not what we have in mind either. Although we are
concerned with lifting your spirits, we hardly have
interest in your religion. It is fairly clear that there is
some sort of smart-ass liberal bent to our position,
not devoid of a deeper, more serious meaning.
Thus, in defining who we are, we start with who we
are not. To the ultra paranoid left, we are not agents
of the military industrial fascist complex, parading as
saboteurs but drawing out suspected enemies of the
state into exposed e-mail trees. For the agents of the
Big Department of Governmental Watch Dogging, we
are not terrorists, we do not promote violence,
unless it is beating piñatas, which indeed we
consider very serious ritual, and we love our country,
so much so that we are willing to protect it against
the stupidity of its current government.
We are the rebel protectorians of the stupiditiness of
governmentalisticalism.
In the old days, the wise fool kept his head despite
mocking the king because he was quick witted albeit
lightly regarded, creative, and kinda funny looking.
That is more like us. Bear in mind the issue at hand is
serious, the most non humanitarian concept of our
United States policy since the omission of slaves and
women as citizens in the initial Constitution, the
internment of Americans based on ethnicity,
the – well, it’s up there, this wall, this fence, paean to
the last vestiges of just us justice and good old days
gone.
The key to understanding who we are, is to regard
Culture as the most important word in our self
appellation, and to see Ministry as a verb. We have
decided upon mockery as the weapon of mass
disrespect, and ridicule as the method for true
democratic transition. At this point we should qualify
that the Minister of Culture to the Ministry of Culture
and the Architect of Folly do not agree on everything,
but absolute agreement is not the imperative, and is
not as important as debate. Isn’t that just like a bunch
of quasi-intellectual Bohemians in Black?
In the Jewish faith, there is purposeful ongoing
review and debate of canon and law, with participants
willfully taking up positions of advocacy and
contradiction for the purpose of testing the truth of
the law. We gladly steal this concept and apply it to
our own process.
The Ministry of Culture is not defined by this
indulgent narrative, it is defined by who participates
and what is reflected in creative dissertation and
dissent that is called for from this point forward.
We are not smart enough to completely define the
Ministry of Culture, we need your participation. In
that sense, the Ministry of Culture is fluid, we are
willing to go with the flow, open the floodgates but
let the water take its course.
It is our desire that we throw open to the bully pulpit,
vox populi, and creative forces, the opportunity to
create art and culture; a forum by which who we are
and what we do becomes what is the Ministry of
Culture.
the image of a foreboding state department structure
or building that is the gatekeeper of all art that is
acceptable and non decadent, perhaps cultural
expression that fortifies the state position against it’s
mongrel opposition, say running dogs of Yankee
imperialism, or the axis of evil; jingoism for all.
Well, we certainly need to change that perception
don’t we? We are also struck by the idea that a
ministry is a pulpit, from the rank lunatic on a wooden
box in Times- Square to the cathedrals of excess that
remove all doubt God is good, God is great, God is a
capitalist.
No. Not what we have in mind either. Although we are
concerned with lifting your spirits, we hardly have
interest in your religion. It is fairly clear that there is
some sort of smart-ass liberal bent to our position,
not devoid of a deeper, more serious meaning.
Thus, in defining who we are, we start with who we
are not. To the ultra paranoid left, we are not agents
of the military industrial fascist complex, parading as
saboteurs but drawing out suspected enemies of the
state into exposed e-mail trees. For the agents of the
Big Department of Governmental Watch Dogging, we
are not terrorists, we do not promote violence,
unless it is beating piñatas, which indeed we
consider very serious ritual, and we love our country,
so much so that we are willing to protect it against
the stupidity of its current government.
We are the rebel protectorians of the stupiditiness of
governmentalisticalism.
In the old days, the wise fool kept his head despite
mocking the king because he was quick witted albeit
lightly regarded, creative, and kinda funny looking.
That is more like us. Bear in mind the issue at hand is
serious, the most non humanitarian concept of our
United States policy since the omission of slaves and
women as citizens in the initial Constitution, the
internment of Americans based on ethnicity,
the – well, it’s up there, this wall, this fence, paean to
the last vestiges of just us justice and good old days
gone.
The key to understanding who we are, is to regard
Culture as the most important word in our self
appellation, and to see Ministry as a verb. We have
decided upon mockery as the weapon of mass
disrespect, and ridicule as the method for true
democratic transition. At this point we should qualify
that the Minister of Culture to the Ministry of Culture
and the Architect of Folly do not agree on everything,
but absolute agreement is not the imperative, and is
not as important as debate. Isn’t that just like a bunch
of quasi-intellectual Bohemians in Black?
In the Jewish faith, there is purposeful ongoing
review and debate of canon and law, with participants
willfully taking up positions of advocacy and
contradiction for the purpose of testing the truth of
the law. We gladly steal this concept and apply it to
our own process.
The Ministry of Culture is not defined by this
indulgent narrative, it is defined by who participates
and what is reflected in creative dissertation and
dissent that is called for from this point forward.
We are not smart enough to completely define the
Ministry of Culture, we need your participation. In
that sense, the Ministry of Culture is fluid, we are
willing to go with the flow, open the floodgates but
let the water take its course.
It is our desire that we throw open to the bully pulpit,
vox populi, and creative forces, the opportunity to
create art and culture; a forum by which who we are
and what we do becomes what is the Ministry of
Culture.
This is not a ministry.
| Special Thanks to Mita Cuaron for her support. |