Sim1Sport vs Film-making
February 2nd 2007 05:10
Sindy Ray
If ever there’s one argument that hysterically orbits an arty dinner party like neo-conservatives over an oilwell it’s;
the amount of money wasted on sport.
Like if only a fraction of that money was spent on the arts…blah, blah.
There’s a reason.
Money is poured into sport because;
Sport sells.
It’s easy to work with.
It’s simple to understand.
It’s got a relatively short life span.
And there are rules.
For a cashed-up entity, pouring money into art is risky.
When Gough Whitlam bought Blue Poles many asked; what’s with the splatter shit? All that money for something 1% of the population could only ever understand and made by this guy that ended up doped up, wrapped round a tree.
Messy.
Sounds cool to me.
But it wasn’t then.
Now it’s mainstream cool, not least because it’s money-wise appreciated over ten times.
Once paint on canvas moves from art to investment then it’s corporate attractive.
But back to sport.
Sport is basically good vs evil. Someone wins and someone loses. Regardless of what the result is, the sponsor is insulated because essentially it’s all about the process and it’s relatively fair. Sport is important. We, as Australians live on an island. Islands are traditionally associated with holidays and fun. Why would anyone want to think when they’re on a holiday?
If a cashed up entity sponsors a sporting competition of some kind they appeal to a large number of people who understand the message, there are rules, if someone breaks those rules they’re punished, everyone has a good time. And in a few weeks it’s pretty much forgotten.
Everyone makes back their money and much more.
Although, what the hell is tennis supposed to be? In all honesty what father would be happy with his daughter dating a tennis professional? In fact, can you imagine a conversation with anyone that played tennis for a living?
My thoughts would hover round; someone give me a 45.
But then I’m easily bored.
Art’s often attached to an individual. Film-making, painting, sculpture, fashion – whatever - an artist is hard to trust until they’re dead. Just ask Pepsi.
But that’s not to say that art and corporate money can’t mix. The movie Kenny is an example, as is The Signature of Sydney art prize, MC’d this year by the effervescent Angela Stretch.
Go self-funded art.
Until next time and happy film-making.
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