What sometimes gets lost in the sophistry surrounding the utility of art conversations that “culture” has raised as an election issue, is the fact that art can also motivate, focus, and give meaning. A founding principal of the DoC came from the dramaturgical rule that it is always better to show than to tell. Don’t argue that art is important, show that it is.
Wajdi Mouawad and Aaron Sorkin are two of North America’s top dramatists. They have also bravely waded into the national discourse about their nation’s elections. In the process, they have created two works that are undeniably polished works of art, while also being unabashed partisan calls to action. The combination is powerful stuff, and they provide and excellent reminder of who we are, what we’re doing, and what we can stand for.
You can read Wajdi Mouawad’s letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper here.
Aaron Sorkin’s fictional conversation between Barack Obama and The West Wing’s President Jed Bartlett is here.
(As a rule, we like to keep this site focused on the Canadian election. This whole false dichotomy between “elites” and “ordinary people” that reared it’s ugly head here this week is a wedge they’ve used to divide our friends south of the border for several elections now though. No need to reinvent the wheel as a response when great minds have been thinking this one over for some time already.)
