I picked up a leaflet last night from the foyer area of Symphony Hall during the interval when watching the Rush Hour Blues Poll Winners, the University of Birmingham Big Band. This leaflet told me all I think I needed to know about the East-Side area which I guess is partly inspired by the Lunar Society. What I thought may be suitable for the Birmingham area, largely to keep Cockneys happy would be the antithesis of the Lunar Society on the West Side of the City. While the Lunar Society and the East side project tend to be focused on stimulating ideas, broadening debate and catalysing action for the most ingenious use of industry and commerce, there is the opposite on the West side of the city.
This is largely the purpose Broad Street - reducing the quality of thinking and productivity throughout the city, getting the least out of people, bringing them through places like Spearmint Rhino to their lowest levels of conduct etc. etc. etc. Perhaps there's a social history of stupid things that people in Birmingham have done over the last few hundred years - an issue that may appeal in some form of joke museum - which side of the city should this be on? Surely this could keep those who wish to maintain a regional predjudice against the Brummie very happy. I say that thinking there aren't any joke museums around - they tend to be quite sober places - am I wrong about this, I guess it's an issue to reflect upon. They tend to be places that facilitate what I can class as an air of humility and respect towards your fellow man rather than places that cause a degree of distain, disrespect or concern.
I heard that there were suffragettes in Birmingham a century or so ago and they failed to build an national or international reputation like those in Manchester or London. Whether this was because it was true that after objecting to the content of the newly built library in Northfield, they decided to burn it down. Why can't you be like those nice suffragettes in Manchester I hear the council ask them, even a century later.
There's possibly quite a role for myself and others who may not feel adequate when they look at the achievements of the Lunar Society -is that what I would be saying if I were to be part of the Eastside project? A latter day Lunar Society wannabe? No, the Eastside project looks like it spans everyone and everything. It's got more of a working class edge to it, being based in an industrial heartland - working class people are meant to at it's heart. There may be some scope to try and inspire a few young people to innovate and do something a little more creative in the world of the arts - could the East-side project area be a means to doing this through an organisation like the Pump? There is at least a good chance young people would be able to get a project started if they wanted to make it on in the arts.
I wonder if this will be recognised as a means of establishing the year of Culture in Birmingham - innovation and stupidity, surely two things that Birmingham has the edge on over the rest of Europe. The East-West divisions within cities may be very much a national or internation trend that has taken place over hundreds of years and the plans the city council has had to redevelop the Eastside of the inner city to be more of a centre for art, culture and education show the city falls in line with international trends - the glitzy wealthy and partying side of the city on the West, those who'd rather stick their nose in a book (kindle, tablet or phone I maybe should say) on the East.
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