FRANZ ANTON CRAMER
Convidado #7
What do you expect in general from criticism?
Criticism in its ideal form would create discourse, translate the discourse created in and by dance into “the public”, and open a continuous dialogue between art and understanding. It would be less about taste and its hierarchies, and more about viewing and contextualizing. However, most dance criticism in Germany’s major national newspapers, is totally in contrast to this vision, and it is precisely this style, or practice, that newspapers want. So there seems to be a sort of negative public consensus about the kind of criticism needed. This is appalling, of course, but it tells a lot about the situation of the media, and of the public, the öffentlichkeit. Just think about what it means if other sections in the respective newspapers where held and directed by equally dishonest and self-centred authors. It’s a startling thing to imagine.
What is lacking, which measures are to be taken?
So, the measures to be taken for improvement would be to gain independence from this kind of hierarchical, totalitarian criticism and find new channels. A self-governed magazine, for instance, as I had told you was proposed for Berlin. In Vienna, they are claiming this as well. A proper discussion on dance, or at least on the issues I find interesting in dance, will not be possible in any public context currently existing. And I do not feel the urge nor the strength to start a donquixotesque battle against obscure enemies somewhere “in the media” or “in the administration”. Rather, my aim is now to work on a proper context for dealing with dance on other levels: archive, discourse, history, understanding...
[Participação de Franz Anton Cramer no livro Vou A Tua Casa a convite de Mónica Guerreiro. brevemente.]
