always thought hogwarts was dodgy because they didn't teach art or textiles or music regularly. no wonder why voldemort wanted absolute power, hogwarts was literally a police academy for 11 year olds. anyway, that's my first reaction to the title, ready to watch. already given a like. love ya leena.

@leenanorms

3 жыл бұрын

That's private education got you 😅 (kidding, mostly!)

@tripsplat

3 жыл бұрын

You're onto something here! Wasn't the only class with "art" in the title specifically just defense against it?

@mikaylaeager7942

Жыл бұрын

They don’t appear to teach maths or regular sciences either. I get that magic complicates those, but they still live in a world were it could be nice to know algebra and physics and what not. Even the classes that resemble science like Potions and Herbology is all about how you use this to turn your enemies purple, instead of developing a deeper understanding of why it is the way it is.

"We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for." - Dead poets' society

@frogsfoot

3 жыл бұрын

IM VERY HAPPY TO SEE THIS QUOTE I LITERALLY SOBBED FOR A WEEK AFTER WATCHING DPS WOOOO

How does a country so proud of producing Shakespeare, who wrote plays said to contain every possible human emotion (and facilite men dressing up as fairy queens), think that it's defining feature should be an unhealthy emotional stoicism? It's an excuse by those in power to take joy from the people for their own profit. "Be proud of your disconnection from your feelings! Look how mature and sensible you are, not wasting time engaging with anything heartwarming or comforting!"

@leenanorms

3 жыл бұрын

I agree, it makes NO sense 😂

@liamquane4701

3 жыл бұрын

Oh well, you see, the bigoted upper classes of England started spreading lies about the Bard, claiming that William Shakespeare didn't actually write his own plays because he was too poor to be that talented. It had to have been the Earl of Oxford, Edward de Vere who wrote them because he was an Earl and was therefore biologically "better" than William the commoner. Again though, this is all lies.

@testosteronic

3 жыл бұрын

@@liamquane4701 you know, the only thing I don't like about Keanu Reeves is that he's a de Vere-ian, he mentioned it in one of those BuzzFeed interviews where they have all the puppies

@kahkah1986

3 жыл бұрын

@@liamquane4701 exactly, ignoring the fact that his plays are not that high-faluting, they totally could have been written by someone with a middling education with some extra access to libraries i.e. via a patron. That is what makes them relatively accessible to a modern audience.

@liamquane4701

3 жыл бұрын

@@testosteronic YES! When I watched that my exact response was: "We've finally found a flaw in Keanu, I suppose." XD

I need the Arts to survive. I'm doing a STEM PhD and honestly, I don't know where I'd be without the consumption of Art. Arts are just as important as STEM, everything is a balance and we can't succeed in one without the influence of the other.

@DaisukeKigurou

3 жыл бұрын

Exactly, people condemn animation or anime with the typical stereotypes. Which I won’t go into cause you know stress and all, also I don’t want to get idiots arguing and giving them value for their ignorant opinions as well as validating their hate and bullying, that and I don’t want to trigger people’s stress and such. BUT, whether it’s painting, music, literature, graphic novels ( the same thing as literature) animation/anime, theatre or whatever you can come up with. I think Art has a purpose and value!!! Those that don’t or are snooty to the arts and look down on them, well I feel sorry for those people. Remember to never hate and show love ❤️ that’s how we win people!!

"If you are in the arts, or if you want to be, if you make the frivolous, if you create instead of produce, if your craft isn't seen as practical, if you can't roll up what you make and shrink, wrap it and reproduce it on mass, you are perhaps in the trade of dignity" This made me tear up

I have already packed away my dreams of being an illustrator in favour of stability and security. But in my free time I have a million projects, sewing clothes, painting, baking and cooking and gardening and every single bloody one of them has my family going "why don't you monetise that?"(which is a whole rant on its own). But as a person who would be in the arts sector if I could, the idea of it being somehow less vital than somebody like me pushing money around for corporations is just. god. If being trapped in my own home for months taught me anything, it's that I cant live without creating, and without the things other people create.

@whynterstorme9592

3 жыл бұрын

hopefletchfan I feel this. My family always asks why I don’t sell my art. One, I have no confidence that it’s good enough to be sold, but two, I have a strong visceral reaction against it. I’m not painting with money in mind. I’m just painting because it’s what I’ve always done. I applaud those who live off their art, but for me right now, I’m just not interested. Non-artists don’t seems to get that!

@stardropboy

3 жыл бұрын

YES! sure, i’d love to be financially stable off art...but i’d just like to enjoy it.

Art has been an integral part of humanity for the whole of our history. You can't look at millennia old cave paintings and conclude that we don't need the arts to function as a species. This has only just been uploaded so idk where you're going to go with this

The ending really got me... The Arts are the ONLY sector that can connect, unite, and inspire the country post-covid. Global conglomerates will be the ones receiving government funding to control our consumerism society. We need a change. I'd love to encourage any creators/makers/artists to comment so we can all support each other. ❤️🙌

When I grew up in Germany and someone asked me what the UKs main selling point is, I'd always reply 'arts and entertainment'. That opinion hasn't changed. If Brexit (sorry, yes I have to say it) is a sinking ship then asking people in the Arts to retrain is taking all the lifeboats and using them as fuel for fire.

@colinneagle4495

3 жыл бұрын

Wow, what a powerful metaphor

@JuriAmari

3 жыл бұрын

Facts!

@VampiraVonGhoulscout

3 жыл бұрын

I'm genuinely considering moving to Berlin or somewhere in France because the way the UK treats their artists is disgusting. Germans and French people actually care about us.

Overwhelmingly important content

as one of the people that "shuffles papers" for a small meaningful arts venue and charity this video made me well up several times. This video is so perfect and articulated so well, I wish it could be sent to all of those ministers who really do not seem to even understand what the arts is.

@leenanorms

3 жыл бұрын

I respect your paper shuffling too! ❤❤❤ Glad you liked it x

'Fund the Arts: I dare you' - I feel like this should be the tagline for any protests to do with this. Absolutely cracking and emotional video Leena!

@leenanorms

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! x

@TheTwigCrackedAnd

3 жыл бұрын

Put it on a tshirt and i’ll buy it

The government posters with ballet dances etcetera 're-training, re-booting' are pretty laughable. In a way 'the arts' label makes it sound lofty, inaccessible to the general public; the arts are music, movies, books - freaking Netflix and chill ! - and are part of what make life worth living. Without these things deemed important... we're just machines. (THANK YOU for this video)

@peacemaster8117

3 жыл бұрын

I think it's disputable whether the crap on Netflix counts as "art", and it's certainly not what people are referring to when they use the term "the arts", at least not in the UK.

"Boxers and Ballet Dancers" is a great name for a book

We need to support the arts! Even if our governments won't. My president tried to justify his lack of support by a statement that 'artists created their best work when they were starving'. Really?! Gosh, I can't wait for his term to end, now that I'm finally old enough to vote, and vote for someone who won't be a disgrace to my country. Please support your local starving artist. Artists do whatever you need not to starve but don't sacrifice the arts.

Forgot how much Billy Elliot makes me sob but I guess before 9AM on a Friday is as good a time as ever. Jesus Christ. There’s so much good in this video. 👏

@leenanorms

3 жыл бұрын

Never not sobbing about Billy!

@ceryswakeman1548

3 жыл бұрын

Yep I’m sobbing too.

I just wept through the whole Billy Eliot essay, I love that story so much. God I love the arts. If you need a lil case study for hope, in Ireland the arts was on the same political roller coaster as every other country. But in the last Government change-over in May, Catherine Martin was appointed to by Minister for the arts (and other things), and earlier in her life she was a classically trained opera singer, and music and English teacher. Her appointment, combined with incredible lobbying and campaigning work done by a voluntary organisation called The National Campaign for the Arts (check out their website and twitter if you need an injection of motivation), resulted in the creation of a task force for saving the arts, and in the new government budget just announced this week, the arts has been given an extra €50 million compared to last year (€130 million overall) specifically to support live entertainment. So, where ever you are, if you care about the arts, keep making noise!

What a way to begin the morning crying. My parents help run multiple local operetta, and musical groups. Their audience is almost exclusively the elderly who have little other community left. The groups have lost members to the pandemic, and the community has lost a hub. The email my dad gets from audience members asking when they may next be able to perform make me cry. It is all utterly heartbreaking. (yes obviously these things need to be shut for now, but they worry if they’ll be able to return. whilst most roles are volunteer, the spaces the perform in can’t afford rent to stay open, and the musicians they hire are the very musicians being encouraged to retrain)

In Australia (where I am) the government is going to double the price of Arts degrees (humanities). The importance of Arts is something that I am very passionate about, and so it is awesome to hear you talk about similar things on the other side of the globe.

I'd forgotten how much I love Billy Elliot. This video is hitting me hard...I've spent the past 20 years only ever working towards a life in the theater, but a few years ago, when I moved to New York City, I discovered that the life of an actor is deeply unsustainable in its own way. Unless I'm willing to wake up at 4am and be in line on the street no matter the weather, BY 6am, 5 days/week waiting for the chance to maybe audition, I will not make it as an actor. I should be willing to do that "for the love of the craft." Unless I'm willing to spend a whole summer working for $200 (total. the whole summer. $200), I won't make it as an actor. "I should be grateful for the experience." I really appreciated your point about the ecological sustainability of the arts, and that is true, a theater performance has much lower carbon emissions than the jets that people take to get to NYC or London to see these shows. But the human toll of life in the arts has only really hit me since stepping away due to COVID. I've been thinking a lot about the concept of the "survival job:" the generally accepted part-time work that actors are expected to "survive" on while also spending ALL of their time off in auditions. This part time work means that unless you're in the actors union, you don't get healthcare (in the US, obvi if you live in a civilized country, thats not a problem for you). It also should be something you're willing to quit in a heartbeat if you get booked. For my survival job, I worked reception at a studio space where broadway auditions would be hosted. It was, to say the least, eye opening. I would see the same people showing up day after day, hundreds at a time, for the handful of roles that were being considered. I would see people fretting over having their resume stapled to their headshots PERFECTLY only to find heaps of these resumes and headshots thrown in the garbage after the audition was over (also the concept of headshots in general is a little....gross). Also, and this might just be covid brain talking, the public health implications of open calls and "Holding rooms," where hundreds of people could be packed in, again, waiting to MAYBE be seen for an audition are HORRIFIC. I'm pretty sure I caught coronavirus from an open dance call where 500+ people showed up like a month before lockdown. All of this is to say that the people who care about the arts REALLY CARE about the arts. People don't jump through all of these stupid, expensive, and downright dangerous hoops for something they're only so-so about. But we also need to make sure that as the arts reopen, we have some tough conversations about how often the fact that we care so much is weaponized against us.

@kahkah1986

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I feel in the past actors had a relatively more stable starting job in rep and smaller scale regional theatres. Ok, it meant being very typecast by age and looks, but it meant a reliable walk on part every week, something to fall back on if you didn't get into the bigger, better company. Hollowing the support structure out was a financial win for the theatre, who didn't have to keep on a core of salaried actors, but they have suffered in the long term because the quality and reliability has gone down. Like where I live, the opera company got rid of its paid chorus, obviously cheaper to run, but in the long term, productions are really hampered. They couldn't get rid of the community outreach stuff etc because of governmental pressure to be relevant. I understand, but should it come at the expense of the art?; if you protect the art, then you have something of value to share.

Erm, why am I crying? Definitely watching Billy Elliot in all its forms this weekend.

As a 3rd year illustration student in the uk... I cried in the end. This is all so unsettling... can’t believe I’m about to graduate an art degree and told I chose the wrong one??? Lol no thanks.

Thankyou so much for this video! I’m about to finish a Masters degree in Performance Practices, and I was hoping to start making my own work as a solo performance maker, but everything that has happened this year to the arts is making me lose hope as to what the future holds for me 🙁 for so many months I’ve been receiving subliminal messages telling me that a degree in the arts is a waste of time, for so many years I’ve received comments from people I know in real life basically telling me they think what I do in an arts degree is a doss and that it doesn’t matter, the amount of comments I see online telling me that students are absolute scroungers has infected the way I look at my education. So both of those things combined, being an arts student, it’s left me feeling rather down on myself for a while. So I really want to thank you for this video, particularly that pep talk at the end, I very much needed it! ❤️

Love this Leena, as a classical musician in the most locked down (and biggest for the arts) city in australia, its really sad to see our government not support us like they support all other (especially male dominant) industries. Its a hard time to be an artist, and its a hard time to try to keep an art community alive. Thank you for some hope and light

Honestly when you pulled the camera close I choked up, like a friend about to give me a massive hug. I’m currently writing a fiction book based around community of performing arts and what it leads to as adults. I’m treating it as my love letter to the arts. In a weird way I’d like to think writing this might help myself and everyone who reads it heal from the indignity of what we’ve sacrificed. I’ve not long started it so it will be a while before it’s done, but Leena if you would like a copy of the manuscript when it’s finished I’d be honoured to send it to you 🧡 Thankyou for making this video 🧡🧡x

@nicoleturner2559

3 жыл бұрын

That sounds like such an important book I’m really anticipating it already!

As a first year acting student, Rishi’s statement and the government’s treatment of students has honestly discouraged me and left me feeling isolated as if I genuinely have no future (at least in the arts). I love acting because I want to tell stories and give something back to help people but it feels as though I can’t even do that and it’s really frustrating

I literally would not have made it through this year without the arts. This is literal, I am one of the lucky ones who was able to hang onto their arts job. But also, without the arts, I just wouldn't have been able to keep going. There is a definite economic benefit to the arts (in Australia where I live as well as the UK), but the arts real value is incalculable because it lives in minds and hearts of those who take part in it, either as a creator or the audience. I have been seriously rethinking working in the arts recently, and I honestly really needed that pep talk, so thank you.

Relating heavily to the cryers in the comment section.. this made me unusually emotional. Thank you!

When we measure the value of the arts in terms of how much money the industry makes and how many jobs it creates, we fail to see it as both an inevitable and necessary human activity. If we value the arts for its own sake, we have to admit that EVERYONE should have access to the arts. Furthermore, while arts of some kind are universal, no specific types or works of art are universal. People from different communities and cultures need an outlet for their own artistic expression and be able to make connections to artistic traditions that are relevant to their experiences and identity. As an artist myself, I keep coming back to the perspective that the real problem is economic injustice. If a bottom level was set that no one fell below in terms of having all their material and social/emotional needs met, the arts for everyone thrives because people will have the time and resources to make art. There would still be art as industries, but there would also just be more art in general, including that which isn't really part of any market or industry, but is just created and engaged with because it can be and gives meaning to the human experience. Thanks for this thoughtful video. I very much appreciated it as I think about (and make art about) this topic a lot.

I couldn't believe his attitude. The arts have got me through this year and I don't have any money, but if I did I would throw it at all the artists because ❤️❤️❤️

This film/musical KILLS me. As a person from County Durham, we so rarely see ourselves portrayed on screen or stage, and to see our collective history portrayed so lovingly makes me weep from start to end.

Bloody hell Leena, way to make me bawl into my coffee for 20 minutes, especially the pep talk at the end! 😆 Thank you for this, for speaking the words so many of us needed to hear. As a small business owner (micropub and self employed art/crafter) it's hard not to dwell on all the forgotten individuals, the people who's work brings joy, comfort and togetherness which is exactly what we need in times like these!! A Greggs sausage roll (snorted at the flying roll) isn't giving us the comfort and connection a homemade slice of cake and a friendly chat from the local coffee shop and mini art gallery is (that can't reopen due to restrictions). An Amazon playlist is no where close to going to see a gig with friends, dancing, singing and letting go. We don't need car manufactures and airline bail outs to 'pull us together as a nation' (though I appreciate the people who's jobs are at risk might), we need each other, we need the things people as individuals can offer even if it's in a socially distanced and restricted way. The arts and the people involved in that are what's going to keep our spirits up, no ones taking comfort in corporate bailout and bullshit government spending that's not making it down to the people that need it.

"The trade of dignity" - I could cry! Seriously loved this video essay, so thoughtful and such an important comment on self expression in our grey old country.

This is a beautiful video. I work with grants for the arts at the city level in Sweden, and even within our own organisation we have to constantly defend the existence of grants in the first place. And this is in a city where one of the top reasons why people visit (tourism money) or move here (tax money) is because of the art scene. You’d think politicians would at least care about that, but nahhhh Weirdly because of covid (and state level relief packages), this will be the first time in years where we won’t have budget cuts. So thanks for that, global pandemic!

This made be cry tears of rage being feel so seem.

As a 15 year old I was obsessed with the movie Billy Elliot but couldn't really articulate why, it just made me feel something in a way that other things hadn't before. As a 23 year old, freshly graduated with an arts degree and a wavering dream, I think that maybe my 15 year old self was wiser than I give her credit for. Thank you Leena for, as always, articulating something that I feel deep inside but am not certain if I am able to give permission to and for always shedding light on the reasons we must keep moving forward.

I want to be a Stage Manager, and as someone from a working class background living outside of London I’ve often struggled to find my place within the industry. I’ve struggled against classism and imposter syndrome for the past few years, but I’ve always kept going. I didn’t even see a play until I was 19, and now I worry that the arts is going to become even more elite than ever. I worry that kids today ,who grew up like me, won’t even get a chance to discover their passions in the future.

I love watching Leena's videos. I always feel after watching one of her videos that the future of the world doesn't look so bleak. She always does her research and then gives good insight and suggestions. I wish more of the people I know were like her :)

I have been working with Covid patients recently and have been relying heavily on escapism - as a regular patron and lover of theatre, I haven’t fully allowed myself to feel my grief for the temporary loss of live theatre before. I cried so much watching this. Thank you x

The arts have literally and metaphorically saved my life. As somebody who has tried to get into the arts world for years (as a hobbyist, a fan, and a pro), the arts are so vital when it comes to emotional expression. There are so many times where I’m unable to articulate until I find the right episode, movie, game, dance, book, or music that aptly summarizes what I feel at that moment. I’ve been through so many schools that focus on STEM that it gets exhausting to reiterate to school authorities that you can’t move a society forward without STEAM. Even Bill Nye, one of the greatest scientists in pop culture history, has said that the arts are so important. (I would know because I asked him a couple years ago about that. ;) )

I miss my theatre trips too. I happily look back at my family theatre trips. Next Easter, going to the theatre is the first thing that I will do (ASAP). Screw foreign holidays, support British theatres.

Watching from a (so-called) “Australian” perspective...this couldn’t be more accurate. Thank you Leena, you absolute legend. ❤️

I work in the arts, in County Durham, and so this video had particular relevance for me. It made me cry. Thank you for sharing it.

@leenanorms

3 жыл бұрын

Xxx

I have never seen Billy Elliot, nor am I in the arts, but this video still made me cry. You're right. People need art, and people need each other. I believe we can and will get through this, but we need to pay attention to what we are told is an acceptable sacrifice, and we need to think about whether or not we agree, and then we need to act (by paying a reasonable sum for what we consume, by bringing awareness to other people, by voting). Thank you for making this video!

So I'm an actor in NY who just graduated from my MFA program last year. It has been hard out here and so flipping sad some days. Thanks for the encouragement Leena. Really.

Hey Leena, thank you so much for this. I studied in London but I don't live in the UK anymore. Nontheless, the situation for the arts is grim all over the world. It's surely a hard time financially but ironically what stings the most is the humiliation of being deemed "unnecessary" after 25 years of training, 4 university degrees and a full time commitment to making people feel good and do good on a deep meaningful level. It's so comforting to know there are people who care, who recognize the importance of the arts and don't want a world without beauty. You really lifted me up and god I really needed it. Thanks

Thank you for this lovely video :)

thank you for this.

Thank you for this 💛

I have never seen Billy Elliot, but your description of the story brought tears to my eyes. Going to have to catch it this weekend. I cannot imagine a world without Art. I feel it's always been the way humanity has coped. This video was amazing, Leena.

Really needed to hear this. Thank you!

Fantastic video, thank you!

You are an angel. As a theatre educator, I am showing your pep talk to my students. Most of them are leaving the arts after high school, but they need to know that their experience has mattered and to never lose that love of connecting and feeling ❤️

just love this! exuberant love for this!

Good vid. I’m glad I found your channel

amazing. thank you, leena.

I sat there crying through your Billy Elliot analysis. I LOVE THAT FILM SO GOD DAMN MUCH!

Leena... thank you so, so much for this. You've articulated so well such a complex topic + the conversation about class and Billy Elliot... whew. That's made me really emotional. In a good way. Thank you for your art. To any other artist seeing this, thank you for doing what you do. We would not survive without it.

This was wonderful, thank you

Incredible! Thank you.

Beautifully put

Thank you for making this video 🖤

Watching from the US. I work in live theatre, I've been unemployed since March and might not go back to work before summer. I needed this.

As the daughter of a miner from County Durham, and with this being one of my late Dad's favourite stories/films, this was perfect 💛💛💛

@leenanorms

3 жыл бұрын

Xxx

@GeeJinx1990

3 жыл бұрын

@@leenanorms I do also work in theatres so it's superb all round !

@leenanorms

3 жыл бұрын

@@GeeJinx1990 haha no way double whammy!

Beautiful message

Ohhh I'm crying! Thanks for this Leena!

This was incredible xx

Another fantastic video!

Oh Leena this was fantastic

Thank you Leena! This is an excellent video.

gorgeous and very heartening video, thank you for making it!

THANK YOU!!!

I love this video. You are amazing. ❤️

This is beautiful! made me cry into my tea... Thank you Leena.

Crying!!! So well articulated Leena 👏

I needed that pep talk. Thank you, Leena.

Really illuminating -thanks for your thoughts!

Tears - thank you Leena, feel so seen. x

I have no words for how much I love this. Thank you

This is amazing, Leena! Thank you for sharing this at such a vital time.

YESSSS! Thank you for this - you've just made getting up on this awful, grey Friday so much easier.

This made me cry. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Leena. This is exactly what I needed to hear.

Loved this - super enjoyed the comparison (and I so miss musicals!!)

Wow that just incredible thank you Leena ❤️❤️

Incredible video, Leena.

this is brilliant. i really really really needed to hear this. i love the way ur brain works!!!!

Congrats Leena, this was a masterpiece! :)

so good, thank you!! going to rewatch billy elliot wow

Great video essay

This video made me feel things. Thanks Leena

We are in the same boat in Australia, where the government is defunding arts education and locking non wealthy people out from studying it by doubling course costs. The Anglosphere is a mess. I have to defend Keynes’ honour tho. I’d visit his birthplace. All these neoliberal fuckers who want us to retrain hate Keynes. Keynes would have given money to low income people to spend on the arts, because it would help the economy in the sense of actually improving people’s lives. But don’t mind me! Love your analysis of Billy Elliot!

@kahkah1986

3 жыл бұрын

Keynes famously got funding for the National Ballet! He is literally the unsung hero of this video!

@TheTwigCrackedAnd

3 жыл бұрын

second this haha! Keynes was bisexual and had loads of lovers and friends making art and he valued it highly and set the foundation for the creation of the arts council. :) ps when it reopens you can actually visit his room at Charleston where his lover Duncan Grant, and Vanessa Bell lived in Sussex :)

Wow. I needed this. The last 20 seconds had me tearful. Thank you ❤ x

INCREDIBLE video leena!!!

@leenanorms

3 жыл бұрын

xxxx

Thank you so much for this! That pep talk had me crying at the end, I really needed to hear this.

Making me cry Leena, Thank you!!!

A masterpiece indeed, Leena!

Such a lovely analysis of Billy Elliot!

This video essay moved me to tears, thank you so much

Brilliant analysis of the situation