Perceptions of the Arts

Television and movies, American in particular, are constantly maligning various groups and giving false impressions, be it about Canadians, the French, or other nationalities or societal groups.

Among these are frequent negative references to the arts. In television sitcoms and dramas, and movies, the arts are seldom portrayed in a positive light, whether it is opera, classical music, book discussions, ballet, art shows, or musicals.

There are programs that portray the arts positively including CBC’s Triple Sensations, So You Think You Can Dance, and some of the other reality arts programs. In fact, some dance teachers have seen more males taking dance lessons recently and attribute this to such programs.

Glee was just named Favourite New TV Comedy in The People’s Choice Awards. Though there is a positive light on the arts, there is still a very strong negative bent in that many people in the school wish to sabotage the performing group.

In reruns of Northern Exposure, a show that was in many ways far ahead of its time, the radio station in the small Alaskan town where it is set is quite unusual, playing Broadway show tunes, jazz, pop, rock, classical, opera and country and western. There is usually no negative reference to any of them.

In the PBS British mystery drama, Inspector Morse, he listens to classical music and attends concerts, presented without a negative bias. These few examples seem to be in the minority.

Let’s look at some examples from old and new television shows and the odd movie.

It is very common to hear references about men not wanting to attend the arts, with the suggestion that it’s a “wimpy” thing to do.
In M*A*S*H, still in reruns, classical music is always being knocked, despite Charles’ love of the genre. The other doctors say they are interested in it only if they can use it to help them date women.

In House, Dr. House criticizes one of his colleagues for going to the theatre and says that men don’t go to a play unless dragged there by a woman in the hope that he’ll get sex later.

A wife is willing to attend a boat show with her husband in Rules of Engagement but he won’t go to theatre with her. Instead, he and a friend scalp the theatre tickets rather than attend a musical with their wives so they can smoke cigars and drink.

The female title character in the drama Bones wants to go to a musical while in New York, but the male agent doesn’t. In fact, she jokes that he, an FBI agent with a gun, might have fun shooting the performers.

In 8 Simple Rules, an art show is maligned with the suggestion that there is no point publicizing it because no one would want to go anyway.

A character in the movie A Cinderella Story makes a reference to a “freak who hums show tunes,” a downright insulting comment.

In the sit-com Still Standing, the father is constantly opposed to his son taking part in choir, Dixieland band, or in fact, any intellectual pursuit. He gives virtually no support to the son’s interests in the math’s, sciences and arts. He says he knew there was a problem with his son when he stopped watching sports and started watching the Tony Awards. This show abounds with typical pro-jock, anti-arts comments.

The term “band geeks” is common, be it on Desperate Housewives or other shows while MadTV uses the term “drama queers.” Such terms are certainly not encouraging.

In Everybody Loves Raymond, when asked if, as a sports writer, he ever had a dream to write the “Great American Novel,” Ray says that he doesn’t even want to read one, again perpetuating the idea that men shouldn’t waste their time reading anything literate.

In Ed, no longer on TV, the comment is made that a male foreign student shouldn’t be doing “arts things” and boys should be doing sports. Of course the comment is made by a male.

…a freak who hums show tunes
…band geeks…
…drama queers

You might think that Frasier promotes the arts, but Frasier and his brother Niles, despite their love of classical music and opera, are absolute snobs of the worst kind. Also, their father is anti-arts and disappointed that they aren’t more sports-oriented.

The character Rachel in Friends takes a slam at opera, though I think that it’s safe to say that in general the show slams just about anything that would involve any intellect at all.

King of Queens and Home Improvement also show the split between men and women when it comes to attending arts events, with the men always being opposed to going to performances of any sort or reading any book that might be considered literature.

In a recent episode of NCIS, a male investigator says that there must be something wrong with a marine because he listens to folk music.

The list continues.

These comments are all meant in fun, but it’s rather sad that such attitudes are perpetuated. It makes me wonder if they become part of the general public’s psyche after hearing slams against the arts over and over, year after year.

The media are always quick to take credit for anything they perceive as positive. Perhaps they should accept the criticism for the negative attitudes they promote towards the arts and the unfortunate stereotypes that they constantly suggest.

I recall leading a Christmas carol sing-along at Lakeview School in 1974, my first year of teaching. A Kindergarten child in the front row told me that I was not supposed to sing because I was a man. I asked him where he had heard that and he said that his dad told him. Is it any wonder that the arts face such negative attitudes when there is such incredible ignorance in society?

With such naïveté, it should be no surprise that many people don’t sing when in public places, especially men. The national anthem comes to mind. They have somehow been convinced that it is not “manly”, or that they can’t sing. It really is a shame, and a waste of potential talent.

Changing attitudes to the arts is never easy, but it is something that we should all be aware of and make every effort to change.

- Bob Nicholls, Editor ♪