MOONSLIDE X BUZZCUT
Tramway Theatre, Glasgow
Ever walked into a symposium thinking it would be a performance? I do that a lot. Art versus Fascism was exactly that. I walked in and perhaps the announcement there were refreshments at 1.15pm should have warned me it was going to be participative rather than observational. The pastries suggested sit back and contemplate, with some participation requested, not sit back and take in the show, with the budget stretching to sugary treats. Whose budget stretches that far…
The number of people onstage who were prepared with an input and then to take questions was impressive. We were here to discuss how art would fight against fascism. I felt ready for the fight, the caffeine had kicked in, the sugar rush was steady, no dips quite yet.
Detailed to be an hour and 15 minutes of a plan of action, it didn't quite work out like that. A lot of it felt that it was not targeted at fascism, but felt like suggestions about learning from successful protests, not least Extinction Rebellion.
Before I got to hear the first input, I was in contemplative mood. As a democrat, I struggle with collectively fighting against people’s opinions. Then I re read that sentence and think, do I? I have to contemplate why one side of the debate should try and stifle the other side. Ironically it was held in the same week that the Conservative Party in Scotland announced in their election manifesto for the upcoming Scottish elections, they would fund organisations who guarantee free speech.
It was a fascinating moment.
It was a fascinating context.
It felt like a facetious commitment.
It was also the weekend in which The Guardian had looked specifically at how we tackle the far right, because of the rise of the far right and fascism within a European context. There was also an interesting article in their magazine on Saturday, looking at how people cope with having relatives who have moved to the far right.
It is a very live topic.
Never mind Tommy “ten names, yakety yak let’s all talk back” Robinson and how he has captured headline after headline, and endorsements of people like Sharon Osbourne, we need to be aware to the threats this poses for free speech. This is trying to become a mainstream political movement.
So, as a democrat, I sat down thinking and considering what it was I was doing there.
Was I attempting to shut down democratic debate?
It didn't take very long to be reminded that the context in which we have a society is predicated on the idea not just of free speech, but also respect and rights. If we take the seven protected characteristics of the Equality Act of 2010 and look at each of them, then we are already as a society, have decided what should be excluded in order to be inclusive.
We believe that civilized society platforms respect to all sides of the debate but the reality is that people who refuse to show respect to trans, differently genetically identified, gay, those of a different skin colour, those who believe in one, many or no Gods, believe they should be allowed to say what they wish. They refuse to acknowledge harm or that it incites others to action.
It therefore comforted me that I was in the right place, watching the right things.
Unfortunately, what I left with was a sense that we didn't have a common, comprehensive understanding of how to do this, which didn't make me feel any less that this was important.
There was a massive amount of great information, wanting to know more about the Red Brigade, the Invisible Circus, the Boomtown Festival, as well as what had happened in Ireland about petrol.
I did think that when someone spoke of “lefties” she perhaps was preaching in the wrong kirk.
As a piece of intervention for the festival, I thought this was a very interesting symposium in terms of its headline. But people spoke for too long and it needed more from the floor.
I did leave slightly early because I had to get to the next show (an actual one this time) and there had been a warning that I needed to queue early to get there.
I do think this is something that is so important that it needs more than an hour and fifteen minutes to go through it. I think it needs more discussion online, in person, wherever it may be. But credit to MOONSLIDE X BUZZCUT that they put it on the menu, with darn fine pastries.
