There is no proper way to talk. We are creating new ways and unlearning old ways of talking. We are in the middle of a digital revolution. Since the email listservs and before, this argument is forever. This is a marvelous and good thing.

[Quoting me] “There can be little argument that New York exercises hegemony over the theatre scene in America, and that that hegemony can be described and revolted against. As an individual member of the NY band, you may refuse to march and play, but from the top of the stadium it still looks like I heart NY.” [end quote]

Similarly the hegemony in theatre education as practiced by universities and academia can be revolted against. As an individual teacher you may refuse to march and play, but from the top of the stadium it still looks like I heart the safety of my tenure.

And when you continually stereotype those who live in the NYC community, you also force the reverse stereotype to activate. And you appear more and more like the sour grape case of a frustrated theatre career and life. “Those who can’t do, teach.”

Just something that bothers me that happens every 4 months or so…

And I think that the Scott as the Yankees thing is actually really valid. He’s not a victim, and he’s not an underdog, but people have long ago stopped responding to what is actually out there on the field and are instead responding emotionally.

All I want is for people to be responding to the post in hand with the past as building block not agenda?

Am I making more sense yet?

Incidentally, the perpetual framing of Scott Walters as a put-upon victim has become inaccurate, in my opinion. Scott has, at this point, dominated the theatrical blogosphere. All major conversations are, in some way, a response to him. In our microscopic little community, he’s the New York Yankees now. Once it made sense to think of him as the underdog, but not really any more.

It’s nothing specific… hence the utter lack of specficity in the post. It’s just a frustration with the lack of learning that’s gone on in the last three years about how this medium works, and how we all relate to one another.

Every fight that happens happens as though it were the first. We’re not moving anywhere.