I had a recent conversation in a car in cottage country on the way to Easter dinner that left my mind whirling, my heart pounding and my fists clenched. According to Minden (Ontario) gossip, (for which I have no evidence to confirm or deny) a Gemini Award winning Canadian comedienne, television host and made-for-TV movie actor is in talks to become the director of Minden, Ontario’s small independent movie house. The driver of the vehicle I was riding in felt the need to stress that the movie house, under this new direction, would only be showing “B list movies; ones with Canadian content.” To which a rider in the backseat piped up, “Isn’t that what got the CBC in trouble? Forcing all that Canadian content?” I didn’t know whether to yell, throw up or cry. So, I did what I often do in these sorts of situations, clamped my mouth shut, folded my arms tightly around my chest, and allowed the anger to fester until I returned home to my faithful laptop.
We are right back to the National Identity Crisis and the theory that our nation is suffering from a severe, and in too many instances unacknowledged, Inferiority Complex. When did we decide as a country that everything we do here is automatically crap? And how can we decide as a country that this attitude is utterly ridiculous and distinctly destructive to the growth and success of an entire nation of people? I appreciate that Canadians tend to be modest about their successes; I even enjoy a healthy dose of self-deprecating humor. I am not suggesting that Canadians need to brag and boast about being “better” than other people or other places. What I am suggesting, or rather what I am urging, strongly, is for Canadians to not be so quick to dismiss its accomplishments, to resist the urge to get swallowed up by American popular culture so completely that they lose all sense of themselves, and, most importantly, to take pride not only in the cultural endeavors that exist currently in this country, but also in the limitless potential for cultural endeavors in our country’s bright future.
The problem here is not simply with the CBC but with the popular attitude that just because something is Canadian instantly means that it is inferior to other televised programming. I do not deny that the CBC has broadcast its fair share of terrible programs but I would argue that that provides even more reason why the CBC should be producing more Canadian content and its funding should be increased. My logic is simple; practice makes perfect. If Canadian sitcoms prove not as refined as those of our American counterparts, it seems ridiculous for us, as an independent country, to throw up our hands in defeat and resign ourselves to simply borrowing art from our neighbor and adopting it (and the dominant culture along with it) as our own. I can’t decide if that is pathetic, lazy or tragic. If we want our sitcoms to rival those of the Americans (and why shouldn’t we? Anything they can do, we can surely do just as well and under worse weather conditions!), we first need to level the playing field, and provide as much funding for our artists and our studio as the Americans do. Secondly, we need to provide a space for these artists to hone this craft, like anyone, they need to be nurtured in order to learn and to develop their own distinct voices, to feel free to make mistakes as a means to improve, rather than simply being cancelled and written off as an inferior Canadian failure. If the CBC is not given a conducive environment in which to practice, it never had a hope in Hell of flourishing.
At the same time, I resent Canadian popular culture being depicted as crap, while American popular culture is heralded. American networks produce its fair share of crap as well and thus we are faced with a simple math problem. Let’s make things very simple. Let’s say that on average 15% of CBC’s programs are considered “quality” Canadian entertainment, if the CBC produces 100 programs, 85 will then be crap. Let’s assume that only 15% of American television programs are considered “quality” American entertainment as well. Since the United States produces so many more shows (let’s say they produce 1000 shows), that 15% gives them 150 quality television shows compared to our 15. In this way, it appears that the Americans produce more shows of quality than Canadians do, when in fact, they just produce more shows in general; the percentages of quality and crap are exactly the same. We are then left with the same answer: to improve, the CBC must produce more Canadian content programs.
I also think that the CBC should capitalize on the aspects of the arts in which Canadians thrive. I took a class in Canadian Cinema two years ago at the University of British Columbia, and I was awestruck by how wonderful the films created in this country are. They receive little publicity, and are universally underfunded- but some of them are absolutely breathtaking. Instead of broadcasting predominantly “made for TV” movies and American blockbusters like the Austin Powers trilogy, why isn’t the CBC promoting these Canadian films? They are far more indicative of the talent and creativity this country has to offer than sloppy adaptations of obscure American novels or news stories.
Where is Sarah Polley? She seems to always be bursting with creative ideas and her own distinct energy and vision. Shouldn’t the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation be supporting (or at least working in conjunction) with such talented, smart, ambitious (and successful!) young artists? Shouldn’t they be paving the way for our future? Shouldn’t their own country want to capitalize on their viable ideas and unique Canadian dreams, rather than pushing them toward Los Angeles?
Almost a year ago I happened upon a wonderful thing on the Internet, a live stream from CBC Radio which was broadcasting a production of Edmonton’s Opera’s rendition of Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore with new dialogue written by Canadian playwright Stewart Lemoine, featuring Teatro La Quindicina Artistic Director Jeff Haslam as Sir Joseph Porter. I am not accustomed to listening to shows via the radio, but I found the experience utterly delightful, and I could tell just from the music and the dialogue that the production was absolutely fantastic. As PBS broadcasts American musicals like Light in the Piazza as well as endless operas and concerts, I think it would fantastic for the CBC to broadcast live theatrical events from across our country on television. It is my opinion that within the arts (television, film and theatre) Canadians at this point in history are most proficient in creating masterful pieces of theatre, which I think should be shared proudly across the country. I think this would only stimulate Canadian interest in its own theatre, and inform potential audience members about theatres that are not otherwise able to publicitize themselves so broadly.
Finally, I think that rather than focusing on the national and, indeed, immersing ourselves in the United States’ culture as though we were all the ‘unofficial’ 51st state, it is time for us to localize ourselves once again. My aunt in Minden has a satellite dish which carries ASN (Atlantic Satellite Network) as part of its package, and although I have only been away from home for three years, it continually fills me with warm fuzzy feelings of home. I would rather Joanne Clancy tell me the news than Katie Couric, despite the fact that Couric is a celebrity. Those hokey Nova Scotian car dealership commercials are far more pleasing to me than Britney Spears selling Diet Coke and I get a little rush of pride every time Naomi Snieckus graces my screen (He’s so handy!).
My granddad’s best friend, Charlie Chamberlain, was on a television program called Don Messer’s Jubilee which was a Canadian folk variety show that appeared on CBC from 1957 to 1969. In the mid 1960s, this show was rated #1 in the country, earning a higher rating even than the CBS variety show The Ed Sullivan Show. How fantastic would it be if each of the major cities in this country had its own variety show which showcased regional talents in music, dance and theatricals and was hosted by that city’s own Ed Sullivan/Don Messer/Dick Van Dyke/Carol Burnett/Rosie O’Donnell/Ellen DeGeneres/ Kermit the Frog equivalent? In Edmonton, each month the Varscona Theatre plays host to Oh Susanna! the city’s own live improvised variety show hosted by Susanna Patchouli (Mark Meer) and Eros, God of Love (Jeff Haslam). That would be something that I think viewers from all across the country, if not the world, would tune in for!
How do we battle this deep embedded inferiority? How do we reach out into the incredulous masses that would sooner watch American Idol than Exotica and appeal to them to give their own country a fighting chance? How do you stress to the masses of people in this country how imperative it is that we use the distinct voice and distinct vision we have and to continue to carve a strong, rich, complex artistic identity for ourselves that stands separate from the imperialistic powers to the West and the South? How do we fight our government, who is content to starve out our creativity and our artistic vision and to lazily pump Americanizations into our homes? We only have a few networks, like the CBC, they are our only hope for the creation of amazing, dynamic Canadian television shows. When the CBC is being threatened, we should all be outraged. Outraged at the government for not lending its support or outraged at the CBC for not managing its responsibilities in a more constructive way, it doesn’t really matter, the point is: we should all be outraged. And we’re not. The artists and their allies cry out in vain, while the rest of the country seems to shrug it off as the inevitable end for the crap that is Canadian culture.
And yet, from where I’m sitting, the only crap I see is pronounced boldly in that ridiculous inferiority complex attitude.
We are right back to the National Identity Crisis and the theory that our nation is suffering from a severe, and in too many instances unacknowledged, Inferiority Complex. When did we decide as a country that everything we do here is automatically crap? And how can we decide as a country that this attitude is utterly ridiculous and distinctly destructive to the growth and success of an entire nation of people? I appreciate that Canadians tend to be modest about their successes; I even enjoy a healthy dose of self-deprecating humor. I am not suggesting that Canadians need to brag and boast about being “better” than other people or other places. What I am suggesting, or rather what I am urging, strongly, is for Canadians to not be so quick to dismiss its accomplishments, to resist the urge to get swallowed up by American popular culture so completely that they lose all sense of themselves, and, most importantly, to take pride not only in the cultural endeavors that exist currently in this country, but also in the limitless potential for cultural endeavors in our country’s bright future.
The problem here is not simply with the CBC but with the popular attitude that just because something is Canadian instantly means that it is inferior to other televised programming. I do not deny that the CBC has broadcast its fair share of terrible programs but I would argue that that provides even more reason why the CBC should be producing more Canadian content and its funding should be increased. My logic is simple; practice makes perfect. If Canadian sitcoms prove not as refined as those of our American counterparts, it seems ridiculous for us, as an independent country, to throw up our hands in defeat and resign ourselves to simply borrowing art from our neighbor and adopting it (and the dominant culture along with it) as our own. I can’t decide if that is pathetic, lazy or tragic. If we want our sitcoms to rival those of the Americans (and why shouldn’t we? Anything they can do, we can surely do just as well and under worse weather conditions!), we first need to level the playing field, and provide as much funding for our artists and our studio as the Americans do. Secondly, we need to provide a space for these artists to hone this craft, like anyone, they need to be nurtured in order to learn and to develop their own distinct voices, to feel free to make mistakes as a means to improve, rather than simply being cancelled and written off as an inferior Canadian failure. If the CBC is not given a conducive environment in which to practice, it never had a hope in Hell of flourishing.
At the same time, I resent Canadian popular culture being depicted as crap, while American popular culture is heralded. American networks produce its fair share of crap as well and thus we are faced with a simple math problem. Let’s make things very simple. Let’s say that on average 15% of CBC’s programs are considered “quality” Canadian entertainment, if the CBC produces 100 programs, 85 will then be crap. Let’s assume that only 15% of American television programs are considered “quality” American entertainment as well. Since the United States produces so many more shows (let’s say they produce 1000 shows), that 15% gives them 150 quality television shows compared to our 15. In this way, it appears that the Americans produce more shows of quality than Canadians do, when in fact, they just produce more shows in general; the percentages of quality and crap are exactly the same. We are then left with the same answer: to improve, the CBC must produce more Canadian content programs.
I also think that the CBC should capitalize on the aspects of the arts in which Canadians thrive. I took a class in Canadian Cinema two years ago at the University of British Columbia, and I was awestruck by how wonderful the films created in this country are. They receive little publicity, and are universally underfunded- but some of them are absolutely breathtaking. Instead of broadcasting predominantly “made for TV” movies and American blockbusters like the Austin Powers trilogy, why isn’t the CBC promoting these Canadian films? They are far more indicative of the talent and creativity this country has to offer than sloppy adaptations of obscure American novels or news stories.
Where is Sarah Polley? She seems to always be bursting with creative ideas and her own distinct energy and vision. Shouldn’t the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation be supporting (or at least working in conjunction) with such talented, smart, ambitious (and successful!) young artists? Shouldn’t they be paving the way for our future? Shouldn’t their own country want to capitalize on their viable ideas and unique Canadian dreams, rather than pushing them toward Los Angeles?
Almost a year ago I happened upon a wonderful thing on the Internet, a live stream from CBC Radio which was broadcasting a production of Edmonton’s Opera’s rendition of Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore with new dialogue written by Canadian playwright Stewart Lemoine, featuring Teatro La Quindicina Artistic Director Jeff Haslam as Sir Joseph Porter. I am not accustomed to listening to shows via the radio, but I found the experience utterly delightful, and I could tell just from the music and the dialogue that the production was absolutely fantastic. As PBS broadcasts American musicals like Light in the Piazza as well as endless operas and concerts, I think it would fantastic for the CBC to broadcast live theatrical events from across our country on television. It is my opinion that within the arts (television, film and theatre) Canadians at this point in history are most proficient in creating masterful pieces of theatre, which I think should be shared proudly across the country. I think this would only stimulate Canadian interest in its own theatre, and inform potential audience members about theatres that are not otherwise able to publicitize themselves so broadly.
Finally, I think that rather than focusing on the national and, indeed, immersing ourselves in the United States’ culture as though we were all the ‘unofficial’ 51st state, it is time for us to localize ourselves once again. My aunt in Minden has a satellite dish which carries ASN (Atlantic Satellite Network) as part of its package, and although I have only been away from home for three years, it continually fills me with warm fuzzy feelings of home. I would rather Joanne Clancy tell me the news than Katie Couric, despite the fact that Couric is a celebrity. Those hokey Nova Scotian car dealership commercials are far more pleasing to me than Britney Spears selling Diet Coke and I get a little rush of pride every time Naomi Snieckus graces my screen (He’s so handy!).
My granddad’s best friend, Charlie Chamberlain, was on a television program called Don Messer’s Jubilee which was a Canadian folk variety show that appeared on CBC from 1957 to 1969. In the mid 1960s, this show was rated #1 in the country, earning a higher rating even than the CBS variety show The Ed Sullivan Show. How fantastic would it be if each of the major cities in this country had its own variety show which showcased regional talents in music, dance and theatricals and was hosted by that city’s own Ed Sullivan/Don Messer/Dick Van Dyke/Carol Burnett/Rosie O’Donnell/Ellen DeGeneres/ Kermit the Frog equivalent? In Edmonton, each month the Varscona Theatre plays host to Oh Susanna! the city’s own live improvised variety show hosted by Susanna Patchouli (Mark Meer) and Eros, God of Love (Jeff Haslam). That would be something that I think viewers from all across the country, if not the world, would tune in for!
How do we battle this deep embedded inferiority? How do we reach out into the incredulous masses that would sooner watch American Idol than Exotica and appeal to them to give their own country a fighting chance? How do you stress to the masses of people in this country how imperative it is that we use the distinct voice and distinct vision we have and to continue to carve a strong, rich, complex artistic identity for ourselves that stands separate from the imperialistic powers to the West and the South? How do we fight our government, who is content to starve out our creativity and our artistic vision and to lazily pump Americanizations into our homes? We only have a few networks, like the CBC, they are our only hope for the creation of amazing, dynamic Canadian television shows. When the CBC is being threatened, we should all be outraged. Outraged at the government for not lending its support or outraged at the CBC for not managing its responsibilities in a more constructive way, it doesn’t really matter, the point is: we should all be outraged. And we’re not. The artists and their allies cry out in vain, while the rest of the country seems to shrug it off as the inevitable end for the crap that is Canadian culture.
And yet, from where I’m sitting, the only crap I see is pronounced boldly in that ridiculous inferiority complex attitude.
