Bob, Bono and Tony B: the popular artist as politician
2002; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 24; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1177/016344370202400309
ISSN1460-3675
Autores Tópico(s)Italian Fascism and Post-war Society
ResumoThe political rise of Jorg Haider’s Freedom Party in Austria in 2000 prompted condemnation from many Western governments and led to a temporary diplomatic boycott. But Europe and America’s elected representatives were not the only people to express their disgust at the ascendancy of the Freedom Party. Some of the most vehement protests came from the artistic community both within and outside Austria. The pianist Andras Schiff announced that he would not play in Austria for as long as the Freedom Party was part of the government coalition. Sting and Lou Reed pulled out of the Austrian leg of their world tours. The film actresses Catherine Deneuve, Claudia Cardinale and Jacqueline Bisset, and the opera singers Neil Shicoff, Bo Shovkus and Nancy Gustafson, all boycotted the Vienna Opera Ball. Other artists honoured their contracts and performed, but used the occasion to demonstrate their opposition to the existing regime. The composer Olga Neuwirth carried a funeral bouquet after a performance of her work in Graz. Playwright Elfriede Jelinek refused to allow her works to be performed while the new government was in power. Fashion designer Guglielmo Mariotto produced a skirt for the Milan fashion show decorated with a picture of Haider, the word ‘No’ in red and a swastika. The British conductor Simon Rattle gave a scheduled performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, but significantly the performance took place at the site of the Mauthausen concentration camp. Justifying his decision to go ahead with the concert, Rattle said that it was a matter of ‘retreat or resist, and now is the time to resist’ (The Guardian, 28 April 2000). Even Arnold Schwarzenegger, film star and Republican supporter, spoke of his opposition to Haider (The Times, 18 February 2000). The first reaction to these gestures and pronouncements is, perhaps, one of only mild surprise. The real surprise would have been if the artistic community had not reacted in this way. This is what artists do. Except, of course, not all artists did react this way. Even considering the reactions to Haider’s Freedom Party, and even assuming that artists are prone to making political gestures, it is evident that there are
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