yes, I know... (0 / 0)
Actually winning elections based on truth without the gimmicks. What a concept huh? Seems we haven't been winning too many lately based on theatrics. Maybe it's time for a change.
There is a great bit of film I've seen in a Jimi Hendrix documentary. They don't show the question but Jimi has obviously been asked if The Experience uses gimmicks. He laughingly defends himself first saying, for example, "what's the atom bomb, isn't that a gimmick?" but then he ends up saying, simply, in that gentle Jimi way, "yes, yes we do."
I have longed for, almost every day of my life, that we could win elections based on "the truth". But a careful study of "the truth" raises some serious questions about that. We are not dealing with a problem of "the truth", the truth is strong and clear enough already, what we have is a problem of comprehension of reality, combined with a problem of communication.
To be "too good for theater", I'm not there any more. I'm no longer "better than good feelings"... I'm "more logical than", but not "better than".
I have a thousand year plan by which yes, I hope we move closer and closer to this idea that is "beyond theatrics" but every year that passes I wonder not only if that's possible but if that's desirable. I suspect now what I really desire is the right sort of theater, the right sort of political theater, that which is "political art". What do I hate about theatrics, is it the theater entire? Is is beauty, is it motion, action, entertainment, excitement?
No, upon reflection, just one thing... dishonesty.
I hate dishonest art and politics both, and this, to me is the real issue.
So I am not against political theater, I'm into doing it well, I'm into it being GOOD POLITICAL ART, the kind of art that illuminates the truth, that makes the truth emotional, that does not abandon the intellect for feelings, but neither abandons feelings for intellect, the synthesis of both and of person and politics. I long for a political theater which is the fusion of elements which helps us recollect our thoughts and know our way.
Hit the lights.