What does City of Culture(2005) mean to you?

pro_gnostic_8

Will it herald a cultural renaissance in Cork or is it another example of scandalous waste of public monies? (target budget of 20 million)

Will it cater for the more eclectic and esoteric cultural/artistic thematics or is it a self-congratulatory excercise for an insecure middle class to indulge in a bit of cultural voyeurism?

Is it a worthwhile undertaking or will it be a monumental bore? Will it be of lasting benefit to Cork post 2005?



Events confirmed so far:

1 Exhibition of the work of Cork Silversmiths and Goldsmiths 1605 to 2005

2 Soccer tournament involving previous Cities of Culture

3 Television documentary series on the people of Cork.

4 A knitted map of Cork involving up to 50,000 people knitting for a year!!!!! (Yeah, I couldn't believe my eyes either)

5 Twenty one Cork poets to travel to the 12 EU applicant states to translate contempory writings into English.

6 The development of a Community Television Channel for Cork.


Personally, the above demonstrates a certain lack of vision IMHO.................. a bit of a drag tbh, except for the footie, maybe. Then again, I s'pose I'm a phillistine.

But I would like to know what your expectations and views might be.

Wook

i'd say any effort to create some more culture should be applauded. what do you think about it ? just leave it the way it is with no improvement or change ? keep the fair o'll ireland as it is with no direction ?
And what do you have against this anyways ?

mooman_00

i agree with wook......any effort to make life around cork a bit more appealing or interesting should be supported.

pro_gnostic_8

Originally posted by Wook
what do you think about it ?

I've an open mind about it, tbh. I'm not quite sure that it will have all that relevance for me.................. I wonder and doubt if my specific interests will be catered for. It was in that light that I was interested in "What the City of Culture means to You?"

I am concerned that this event will amplify the exclusion already experienced on a daily basis by the more economically disadvantaged citizens of Cork. "Culture" IMHO is a Class issue .............. a restatement of the economic inequality between those that can afford opera/theatre and those whose social entertainment is confined to a couple of pints in the local. I'm sorry ..... but you did ask.

I also have a serious problem with the lack of invited imput from Community groups. Maybe if this had been the case rather than a single (and overpaid) Director with AFAIK arbitrary powers of event-selection, we wouldn't have "happenings" like 50,000 people knitting a map of Cork. Reading about that plan had me in stitches ..........honestly, that last smart-ass sentence just this second jumped into my mind.:D


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just leave it the way it is with no improvement or change ? keep the fair o'll ireland as it is with no direction ?
And what do you have against this anyways ?
_________________________________________________

Why the confrontational atti-tude, dude? First three paragraphs in my original post ended in question marks.........an honest and upfront attempt to determine the views of other forumites on this matter. Nothing more or less. I really am interested in what this 2005 celebration means to You.

Wook

True, should not have gone into an offensive comment.
there was no reason for it , and forgive me for this.

I think it's hard to organize something on a 'grand' scale that will cater for everybody. I myself would also not be interrested in the knittings... (which is kinda weird). But then again i wouldn't be too pleased with a 'Westlife' concert either.

am concerned that this event will amplify the exclusion already experienced on a daily basis by the more economically disadvantaged citizens of Cork. "Culture" IMHO is a Class issue

Now thats just silly, i think it's only an issue when you make it to be one. You 'can ' choose to participate and open your mind for what other people understand as Culture, but to sit on the sideline and bitch about a class-system ?!

And there is little you can do for people prefering a pint in their local complaining about the lack of culture... except maybe place a tent somewhere and bring them outside sitting in the sun and let them continue complaining there.

Culture can be tasted and enjoyed by everyone if only you would open your mind to it....(but still....knitting?!)

pro_gnostic_8

Originally posted by Wook
True, should not have gone into an offensive comment.
there was no reason for it , and forgive me for this.

It's cool, Wook. Thank you for that. No offense taken .............. all part of the cut and thrust of debate.



quote

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Now thats just silly, i think it's only an issue when you make it to be one. You 'can ' choose to participate and open your mind for what other people understand as Culture, but to sit on the sideline and bitch about a class-system ?!

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In fairness, my point was that the working man and his wife are excluded from high culture thru lack of money. I would like to see some degree of affordability factored into this 2005 event so that all the citizens of Cork, rich and poor, can partake. How about a few free concerts along the lines of the "Lark by the Lee" of a coupla years ago. And I don't see any consideration being given to Youth Culture or STreet Culture in the events so far planned. A leap of imagination by the organisors is badly needed .......... something to transcend the blandness of Exhibition of Cork Silversmiths, etc.

Wook

might be true that some parties are left out, but let's just hope this is a step forward and might grow to a community celebration rather then the 60plus headbangers ball.

sceptre

A few good free events would be a start. And I mean slightly more than getting some dazed 2FM DJ down to play records while people dance on the street for a day (though I believe that's compulsory and at least it gets the youngsters out).

What has Cork contributed in culture to this little island/continent of ours (I'm not being smart here, I'm from Cork, remember)? Whatever it is, we should have some of that.

solice

What has Cork contributed in culture to this little island/continent of ours (I'm not being smart here, I'm from Cork, remember)? Whatever it is, we should have some of that.

here comes the big "school of music" debate.

Stark

Cork city's biggest contribution to culture has been those signs erected on scaffolding throughout Cork - "Please don't let all this scaffolding and road works put you off, cork is quite a nice city once you take away all the ****".

D-Generate

I just want a darned airshow like they tried to do years ago for the Cork 500 celebration i think, cept mist came in out of no where and grounded all the planes. Even the Red Arrows came!!

Anyone else wish to help start up a petition for an airshow?

dahamsta

What has Cork contributed in culture to this little island/continent of ours?

The word "langer". Obviously.

Whatever it is, we should have some of that.

Langer.



adam

pro_gnostic_8

Originally posted by D-Generate
I just want a darned airshow like they tried to do years ago

I remember that................. about twelve years ago, I think,.............. and I remember being so disappointed. On the Monday, as they were leaving, the Italian Airforce squad gave a flyover above the city, tipping the wings of their planes in salute. Sheer class. Yeah, would love to see something similar organised again ................ would excite a lot more people than an Exhibition of Cork Silver IMHO.

This evening's Echo carries an article by Nicola Cooke in which she claims the main "centre of culture in Cork" (Emmet Place) is being despoiled by street skateboarders. Local traders -- Marble & Lemon, and Dressing Room -- are quite annoyed it seems. Ordinary kids shouldn't be allowed near such a "cultural" area -- the traders are pressurising the Gardai to have the skateboarders removed to Bishopstown!!! An area where there is less culture I presume?.

Xerxes

It's a shame that we had to wait for this City of Culture thing before the anyone even thought of doing up Patrick's Street and the rest of the city.

dahamsta

It's the way the pols work Zerxes. We should come up with more "initiatives" like it. My bedroom is going to be "International Bedroom of Wonder" in 2006.

adam /fingers crossed

frenett

Ok, there are a few things that I want to say
1:
The whole sk8er issue, I think this public witch-hunt against sk8ers is a farce! The ONLY reason they are being picked on is that they stand out, sk8ers are generally nice decent people who do not steal, and have sum thing to do with there time other than get drunk start fights and make peoples life miserable (witch is all 2 common in cork) and I say, the more the better.
(im not a sk8er BTW)

2:
the poorer classes can’t afford the culture, now that’s total horse, sh1t!! one night getting pissed or stoned costs much more than a ticket 2 the opera house, they do not WANT to go to these places, witch is fine by me, but when people start saying there being excluded because they cant afford it, that’s just crap!!

3:
the city of culture, I think its fantastic that we got it, but our government are not spending enough on it, and are liable to embarrass our city with a half assed show. (when an Austrian city, cant remember witch1, got the city of culture, they built a glass opera house on a lake, along with millions spent on other projects, this is what the city of culture is, and cork is going to..... nit a map.... ohhhhh) they lied to get it to us. So, as much as it pains me 2 say it, I think it should b taken away from us, and if we can earn it back fair N Square, then good.
Frenett

Xerxes

Yeah, they should leave the skaters alone.I used to work down by the Opera House and I never saw them give anyone any trouble.It's just a bit of fun.I'd rather be a skater than be one of "da lads" who can't grow a moustache and never change out a Celtic jersey and white tracksuit pants.

frenett

thank you, the more minority groups around the better, its better to hav a nice guy that stands out a bit, than a bastard that fits in!