From: "Alan Cook" <alangregorycook-AT-msn.com>
To: jmenke1-AT-roadrunner.com
Date: Mon, 05 May 2008 02:41:19 GMT
Cc: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: [Puptcrit] An Alumni Week surprise with puppet protest reaction


I just got home from Claremont, CA where I picked up 6 puppets and 4 posters/photos from a 4-day alumni exhibit and from there I went to Costa Mesa to see Matthias Kuchta perform a brilliant solo-puppeteer version of SNOW WHITE. Our Class of 1953 Reunion began on Wednesday---I did not get there until 3 p.m. that day, so missed a morning trip to a winery in Temecula, but did arrive in time for the alumni art exhibit opening. Thursday I spent most of the day at home working on a mailing on behalf of our puppet collection (International Puppetry Museum), mailed stuff and drove back to Claremont for an all-classes dinner in a big gymnasium. We were seated at the furthest point from the speakers platform, but nearest the buffet tables, which was preferable. Besides, we already heard all the stuff delivered from the platform.

Each night I'd drive back home to sleep, since even wih high gas prices it was cheaper than a motel/hotel    (60 mile round trip).

Anyway, my gas tank level was getting mighty low this afternoon---the dashboard warning light came on before I reached a gas staton at the Pasadena/Altadena boundary line where the price weas $3.819 a gallon. For the first time ever it cost over $66 to fill the tank.  Alumni week registration, meals and a trip to Sam Maloof's beautiful furniture workshop/home cost over $200, and I drove at least 250/300 miles altogether.  So these days have been expensive by my standards. I can say it was worth it to see and talk with so many people I knew since 1949-1953, including 2 former dorm room mates.

To my surprise there was a BIG CONTROVERSY throughout Alumni activities. Some idiot discovered that our Alma Mater was first performed as the finale of a blackface minstrel show, 1909/1910 and made photocopies of this information, and suddenly some delicate souls of at least some African descent decided to play victim and to feel "uncomfortable" if the Alma Mater was sung, resultng in the decsion by the current President of the College to be DREADFULLY  "understanding" of this "discomfort"and he decided that for this Alumni Week and the forthcoming graduation ceremonies, that the Alma Mater would not be sung.

What passes for "political correctness" seems to change on a weekly or even daily basis, and usually leads to some idiotic decision(s).

First of all, in 1909-1910, minstrel shows were still a THEATRICAL CONVENTION, and when performed by amateurs or students, was more of an excuse for a talent show.

Secondly there is nothing "racist" about the music nor the lyrics which were standard alma mater material:

Hail Pomona Hail!
We thy sons & daughters sing
Praises of thy name,
Praises of thy fame'
'Til the Heavens above shall ring!
To the name of Po-mo-na,
Alma Mater, Hail to thee!
To the Spirit True of the White & Blue!
All Hail Pomona, Hail!

We have sung this for 88 years, and NOT in any context of a blackface student performance, but as a tradition that connects every class from 1910 to 2007+ better than any other tradition of the college. I believe 88 years of a positive context should counteract any other meaning of the song.

We have noted this week that the National Anthem of the USA was set to an English drinking song (which is why so many find it unsingable in their normal octave range).

Martin Luther and other church leaders adopted popular tunes for hymns. Luther saw no reason to leave good tunes with the Devil. And Black contributions to music included cakewalks, jazz and numbers performed by Black actors in blackface! Artists of any color tend to make the most of any opportunity and I'm grateful they do.

The College Administration plans to allow "much study" to the problem. Talk about academic bullshit  So in the meantime, some of the Alumni were feeling a bit rebellious and spoke up at several "forums" on the subject.
I participated in two such discourses and was surprised at how many people came up to thank me for expressing their opinion

Saturday at 9:10 a.m., my class was scheduled for our traditional class picture on the steps of one of the older and more stately campus buildings. As soon as the photos  were taken, we sang the Alma Mater LOUD & CLEAR.

A short time later, a 60's class did the same thing, garbed in tie-dyed clothing and sporting a bevy of 60's signs.    

One of the aspects that we objected to was that the situation was CENSORSHIP. It also was extremely INSENSITIVE TO THE FEELINGS of GENERATIONS of us.

This discussion about outmoded entertainment forms such as minstrel shows was roundly discussed in the 1960s. My friend, Dr Beverly Robinson, PhD of UCLA Theatre Dept who specialized in Black Theater and its history (including PUPPET FORMS reflecting the human stage). organized 3 exhibits shortly before her death---two in Florida and one in Los Angeles (Watts Labor Council Community Action 's art gallery) and she borrowed several puppets from my collection, from Bob Baker Marionette Theater and from Sesame Street including Kevin Clash videos of Elmo. She saw that the history of the black image in theater is not all negative.

It pains me to think that what appears to be a small number of current students at my Alma Mater choose of play VICTIM to the hilt and to totally ignore the fact that show biz was an early means to the recognition of Black talent in performance & music and dance. and progress even came via blackface shows. Listen up---in theater it is usually hard to land any paying part for most of us. .Once you get a check you can work your way up. Progess tends to come in dribs & drabs. 

It shocks me that any student at Pomona College in the year 2008 is still so ignorant of how showbiz helped change perceptions for the better, even if it took time. And I m shocked at their ignorance of American history.

To censor our Alma Mater (which had original music, unlike many similar songs which recycled other tunes) has done a great disservice to Alumni and Future Alumni. I fear that some who donated annually to the College will carry through with their plans to protest next year for checks in the amount of one cent.

At our class' final dinner last night, we again sang the Alma Mater. AND my "Billy Goats Gruff" shadow show made a last-minute appearance, with a new variation.
This time Little Billy Goat enters singing the Alma Mater to the consternation of the mean old troll, before successfully crossing the bridge. The second Billy  also sings and crosses the bridge successfully. And finally Big Billy encounters and dispatches the troll as he triumpantly crosses the bridge singing the Alma Mater with GUSTO.

I am happy to report it was well received.

Puppets are a great vehicle for protesting censorship in the arts.

Alan Cook Class of 1953 Pomona College


-----Original Message-----
From: jim menke puppets
Sent: Sunday, May 4, 2008 4:42 PM
To: Addis, Alan Cook, B. Fitzger, baburgett2-AT-aol.com, Bern, Bob Eppink, Dale, Darrell, Deana & Caj (GM), Erica, Flora Linda, Janerozek-AT-aol.com, Joan, Joann, John, Judy & Bob, Karen W, Katharine Piper, Kathy Palmeri, Kathy Randle, Leon, Linda Garrity, queenb21-AT-adelphia.net, Marge, Marian Reo, Mary, Mary P, Mary Robinson, Nancy, Nick, Paul W, Peter, Rachael, Roger, Ron, Steve J, Tom & Anne, Tom Gormady
Subject: rebate check

 
 
How to use Your IRS Rebate check
 
As you may have heard, each of us will be getting a tax rebate check to
stimulate the economy. 
 
If we spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China. If we
spend it on gasoline it will go to the Arabs. If we purchase a computer it
will go to India. If we purchase fruits and vegetables it will go to Mexico,
Honduras, and Guatemala. If we purchase a good car it will go to Japan. If
we purchase useless stuff it will go to Taiwan and none of it will help the
American economy. 
 
We need to keep that money here in America. The only way to keep that money
here at home is to spend it at yard sales, since those are the only
businesses still in the US!
 
 
 
Carol
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