Of Street-Performers and Art (sort of)
It's Sunday afternoon at the Santa Monica Third Street Promenade, and a suspiciously polite black guy asks some passerbys (including myself.) for some money. I'm sort of lost in thought and not paying attention to the request until he adds that he's willing to "rap for money." The aging hipster with the out-of-place earring says "No Thanks," but frankily, I've never been one to pass up discount dope rhymes. (Which makes me ponder the idea that if they started having live shows at Dollar General for a buck, Metallica would get even more pissed.)
So, anyway, Discount Rapper Guy asks my name before throwing down on some 80's style beat-boxing and improvises a semi-clever verse that unapologetically praises me. The flattery was a bit gratuitous, but I realize he was just trying to get me to part with an extra buck or two, and I applaud the effort.
As a whole, the performance was at least as good as overrated hack 50 Cent, and only cost double his name.
Let the record show that I also offered 5 bucks if the dude could do some high-quality breakdancing.
Down at the pier, mostly camera-toting tourist crowds were beginning to crowd around a sporty-looking middle-aged Asian guy named Kevin ("at least I think that's what he said...it could of been "Heaven", I guess.)
Kevin was deftly placing a frisbee, badminton racket, some wooden poles, various balls, and a table of liquid filled wineglasses in front of him. As Kevin implored the crowd to come closer, he turned up his boombox rocking some mid 90's techno and spun a soccer ball with a mini-basketball on the racket, while alternatingly mugging for the modestly entertained crowd. He then pointed at a donation jar and claimed his "balance show" was "very tiring" -- people put about $20 in his bucket before he balanced the wineglasses on a broomstick, which he balanced on his chin.
Ah L.A., where there's always an opportunity to make a buck off your talents- no matter how great or small they really are.
Its interesting to me how many people in L.A. talk, sing, rap, or yell to themselves or no one in particular.
The second day I was here, a homeless guy approached Maria and I, and said "A Negro was killed on 6th and Colorado yesterday!"...He went on to tell me that he himself had "put a hex" on the dead man and that he was a "holy innocent."
In the past week, I've seen dozens of people talking and singing like this (well, not about putting hexes on people of course.) I've been to many big cities in my time, but this seems to happen more in L.A.
My guess is that in L.A., so many people want to express themselves in a town that prides itself on self-expression and tolerance, and want to feel important in a city of Big-Shots, but there's often no one that cares.
Ironically, it's not just the vagrants who look crazy by appearing to talk to themselves. Now a large portion of cellphone users are using these silly Bluetooth ear-attachments that male them look like an extra from a cheap UPN sci-fi show. When you can't see the little blue earpiece, it looks like these some business guy telling his capiccino about his mutual funds. So, perhaps if homeless people want to look like LA's culturally elite--all they have to do is grab a pair of aviator shades and a little blue earpiece.
For only $49.95, you too can look like a futuristic weenie on your cellphone
But back to my point (or did I have one?)...it seems like there is a measurable success for these people- it's based on their ability to market their talent and turn it into a commodity so they can recieve a sustainable income from it. This actually goes for almost all of us, it's just not necessarily entertainment related.
For example, turning your talent in destroying plaque into being a dentist or at math into being an accountant, or being an ass into being a lawyer. (sorry)
That said, it seems more poignant when we're talking about the "arts": dance, writing, singing, painting because we always hold so much of if up as being important or transcedant.I guess the question then is...how pure and good can art be when it is produced by such a twisted, greedy, and self-serving industry like the Hollywood system?
And is the simple street performer rapping "Ryan is a superstar" necessarily more authentic and real because he's not on MTV if his purpose is to get a few dollars from me?
It's Sunday afternoon at the Santa Monica Third Street Promenade, and a suspiciously polite black guy asks some passerbys (including myself.) for some money. I'm sort of lost in thought and not paying attention to the request until he adds that he's willing to "rap for money." The aging hipster with the out-of-place earring says "No Thanks," but frankily, I've never been one to pass up discount dope rhymes. (Which makes me ponder the idea that if they started having live shows at Dollar General for a buck, Metallica would get even more pissed.)
So, anyway, Discount Rapper Guy asks my name before throwing down on some 80's style beat-boxing and improvises a semi-clever verse that unapologetically praises me. The flattery was a bit gratuitous, but I realize he was just trying to get me to part with an extra buck or two, and I applaud the effort.
As a whole, the performance was at least as good as overrated hack 50 Cent, and only cost double his name.
Let the record show that I also offered 5 bucks if the dude could do some high-quality breakdancing.
Down at the pier, mostly camera-toting tourist crowds were beginning to crowd around a sporty-looking middle-aged Asian guy named Kevin ("at least I think that's what he said...it could of been "Heaven", I guess.)
Kevin was deftly placing a frisbee, badminton racket, some wooden poles, various balls, and a table of liquid filled wineglasses in front of him. As Kevin implored the crowd to come closer, he turned up his boombox rocking some mid 90's techno and spun a soccer ball with a mini-basketball on the racket, while alternatingly mugging for the modestly entertained crowd. He then pointed at a donation jar and claimed his "balance show" was "very tiring" -- people put about $20 in his bucket before he balanced the wineglasses on a broomstick, which he balanced on his chin.
Ah L.A., where there's always an opportunity to make a buck off your talents- no matter how great or small they really are.
Its interesting to me how many people in L.A. talk, sing, rap, or yell to themselves or no one in particular.
The second day I was here, a homeless guy approached Maria and I, and said "A Negro was killed on 6th and Colorado yesterday!"...He went on to tell me that he himself had "put a hex" on the dead man and that he was a "holy innocent."
In the past week, I've seen dozens of people talking and singing like this (well, not about putting hexes on people of course.) I've been to many big cities in my time, but this seems to happen more in L.A.
My guess is that in L.A., so many people want to express themselves in a town that prides itself on self-expression and tolerance, and want to feel important in a city of Big-Shots, but there's often no one that cares.
Ironically, it's not just the vagrants who look crazy by appearing to talk to themselves. Now a large portion of cellphone users are using these silly Bluetooth ear-attachments that male them look like an extra from a cheap UPN sci-fi show. When you can't see the little blue earpiece, it looks like these some business guy telling his capiccino about his mutual funds. So, perhaps if homeless people want to look like LA's culturally elite--all they have to do is grab a pair of aviator shades and a little blue earpiece.
For only $49.95, you too can look like a futuristic weenie on your cellphone
But back to my point (or did I have one?)...it seems like there is a measurable success for these people- it's based on their ability to market their talent and turn it into a commodity so they can recieve a sustainable income from it. This actually goes for almost all of us, it's just not necessarily entertainment related.
For example, turning your talent in destroying plaque into being a dentist or at math into being an accountant, or being an ass into being a lawyer. (sorry)
That said, it seems more poignant when we're talking about the "arts": dance, writing, singing, painting because we always hold so much of if up as being important or transcedant.I guess the question then is...how pure and good can art be when it is produced by such a twisted, greedy, and self-serving industry like the Hollywood system?
And is the simple street performer rapping "Ryan is a superstar" necessarily more authentic and real because he's not on MTV if his purpose is to get a few dollars from me?
Ryan, Awesome post. Your writing is both entertaining and thought-provoking. I am able to get the sense of what it is like to have moved to LA for the first time. You've given us back here in Missouri a front row seat to what's going on with you guys. Thanks!
Posted by
BG |
6:50 AM