Our Very Narrow and Immature TV and Radio Stations

I find it very strange that on our DSTV service we have approximately 200 stations and not one deals with the visual arts other than a very occasional reference. SABC services are no better.
An Arts talk-show on one of our many radio stations would be warmly and enthusiastically received by a large and programme-starved Arts community, but it is like listening to SETI. Silence with the odd crackle.
I have written to these stations on this matter a number of times and not even static in response.
Almost as strange is Music content our stations. One has to wonder if the powers that be believe that all they need to cater for is those with a mental age of below 15?
Do they ever wonder about how many 15 year old's pay the rather bloated TV license fees and horrific DSTV monthly payments?

John Smith - Artist: Our Very Narrow and Immature TV and Radio Stations...

John Smith - Artist: Our Very Narrow and Immature TV and Radio Stations...: "I find it very strange that on our DSTV service we have approximately 200 stations and not one deals with the visual arts other than a very ..."

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Spring Morning

This is a champagne Sunday morning. Perfect in every way, and one of those rare days that sends any thoughts of moving away from Durban temporarily to the back of one's mind.

Some time back I wrote an article in my "Thoughts from my Studio" series asking if South Africans at large took their artists seriously? After a recent questionnaire and some questions, as well as some information was passed to me I am now wondering if we as a nation take our heritage, treasures and art seriously. Works of art it appears, are no longer, (or at least very seldom) being bequeathed to the country, and collections are being moved off-shore as a whole, or being broken up and moved overseas to be auctioned there. No wonder auction houses in London are doing so well dealing in SA Art, especially our most treasured works. Why would this be? Is it avarice by those who would have previously bequeathed, and that people now want cash and are no longer compelled to leave valued treasures to this country and its peoples for posterity. Or is it political, or that those that have collected these wonderful and prized collections no longer have any faith in a stable future here? Even though nature blesses us so in every way, we must so often these days 'cry the beloved country'
Till later....

Learning to walk

I really am not too sure whether I want to be doing this - that is having a blogsite at all. The truth of it is I feel I want to spend less time at the PC and as soon as one starts writing stuff with it becomes a responsibility. My core function is as an artist and that is where I most want to be, but I cannot deny that I love writing as well and the writing that most excites me is sort of investigative and thought provoking writing.
These are the first lines of many and now I've started there will no doubt be plenty more, but alas its very late now, just before midnight to be exact, so I will leave this for now and come back to it as soon as time allows and try and learn how to be a little more professional and proficient at doing this thing. Sleep well. Till next time...