Qualify yourself son

Over the weekend as helicopters circled my house and Sydney was bunkered down to protect the ruling class, I started thinking about what it is that qualifies yourself for positions of influence and authority.

Protesters expressed passionate dissent against the strong arm of the 1500 NSW Police Force and spent Saturday morning actively opposing the Chinese, US and Australian Governments. Scuffles broke out here and there as media and police swooped on those that were disorderly.

Banners waved as they voiced anger over a range of issues including Bush's War on Terror, China's human rights record, Indigenous land rights, work choices and climate change. Dissent, dissent, dissent.

If anything, Saturday's protest was probably the best free piece of live theatre that you could have seen. The best moment was watching a large group of the Socialist Alliance being ordered about and barked at by their organiser through a megaphone. I did take the opportunity to suggest to a few of them that as a socialist collective they shouldn't just take orders like that... but no one ever listens.

It appears that global politics wasn't the only thing providing a platform for dissent over the weekend.

It appears that the appointment of Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton as Artistic Director's of the STC is still stirring up some passion within the arts community. They certainly have the support and well wishes from most of their peers and colleagues but there are some who are still dissenting the decision, as Bryce Hallett reported in Saturday's Sydney Morning Herald;

"Blanchett and Upton are not taking anything for granted, particularly given their awareness that a number of experienced directors were dismayed about the board not advertising the prestige post of artistic director. Some claim it has set a worrying precedent.
One accomplished director, who declined to be named, told the Herald he 'may as well go back to NIDA to study acting to get a clear shot at leading the STC'," Hallett wrote.

I have had similar little comments thrown at me recently and had the fortune of being told on numerous occasions that I am totally unqualified. Unqualified this, unqualified that. It becomes a badge of honour.

For every person that says that you are wrong there is a chorus of those that support your assertions. It's a strange world isn't it?

I can imagine that in the case of Blanchett/Upton that it would be a similar scenario. This year and next years programme will showcase the writing and directing skills of the pair as peers and colleagues haven't had many opportunities to see their abilities flexed... Blanchett is essentially an actor and Upton an adaptor and that's where their experiences lie.

As Hallett states, "It's as if they're on fast-track apprenticeships - he as writer, she as director - to show where their priorities lie, no matter the allure of high-paying Hollywood movies or the distraction of red-carpet openings."

So where is the line drawn and what exactly does it mean to be 'qualified' to be in a position of influence?

It's such a subjective thing and personally I can't wait to see what Blanchett and Upton will do with the STC. One thing is for sure, though, any dissent about the appointment will fall on deaf ears just as Saturday's protest did and you better remain anonymous. Either that or start an unqualified blog.


Image credit: Michael Pigott