Spec A&E has a huge advantage over the Arts pages of most other college newspapers: we’re in New York. We have the benefit of being closer to so much of the art/entertainment scene that it’s pretty daunting. But in the frenzy to appreciate (and, of course, cover) as much of the New York art scene as possible, it’s easy to forget that the Spec is first and foremost Columbia’s newspaper. So where does that leave A&E?
The Campus Arts Question has been one of the most problematic issues I’ve faced during my first semester as A&E Editor—and it has kept popping up, no matter how much I tell myself I’ll deal with it later. First of all, often writers are so interested in the whole New York thing that they don’t want to focus on Columbia’s more humble art scene. Second (and this has proven to be far peskier), nobody can decide if it’s okay to be critical of campus groups—and, even if they’ve decided it’s okay in theory, nobody seems willing to make that first constructively critical step.
The first facet of the Campus Arts Question seems to be beginning to solve itself. As writers and section editors are learning, campus articles can prove to be more interesting than non-campus articles. For example, it might be far easier to conduct an in-depth, personal interview with a campus figure than with a famous artist, author, musician, or the like. And, despite being less known, these regular, albeit artsy people can be surprisingly awesome. Of course, when one does get access to a celebrity, that’s cool too. But working with campus arts is a good way to hone one’s skills in preparation for that ever-elusive celeb, all while learning that slightly more normal people can make for great A&E content too.
The second side of the Campus Arts Question is definitely more pressing, and far more controversial. When we review or feature a non-campus-related book, film, video game, or play, we try to be as candid as possible—after all, what’s the point of running an article if we’re not going to be honest? But the question has come up time and time again: how critical should we be of campus arts? Which is more important to us: informing the reader, or giving under-appreciated campus-affiliated artists/actors/bands/etc some much-needed good publicity?
I’ve thought about this question. A lot. Because it’s come up. A lot. And, after nearly a semester of pondering, I think I know what my answer is.
As the A&E section of a campus newspaper, we have a duty to two groups: the people involved with campus arts, and our readers—but there’s no need to choose between these. In terms of the campus artists themselves, we have a responsibility to cover their performances, productions, releases, and what have you, and to get the word out to as many people as possible that there is, in fact, a thriving art scene on Columbia’s campus. But we also have a responsibility to treat these people with respect—and sometimes that means treating them the same way we treat professionals, and leveling some criticism (always constructive, of course) where it is due.
As for our readers, we have a duty to be honest with them. That means being critical of campus productions when necessary, but it also means not being critical without good reason—and that goes for all articles, not just campus-related ones. What it comes down to is that our writers must be honest. In the end, that should help the readers, the campus artists, and the A&E section itself.
That being said, let me clarify what it means to be critical and honest about campus art: what it doesn’t mean, for example, is holding a campus theater production to the same standards as a Broadway show. It doesn’t mean comparing campus bands unfavorably to their much-more-established non-campus influences. What it does mean is being as fair as possible, while keeping in mind the limited resources and different nature altogether of most campus-affiliated art, as compared to New York art. Treating campus artists like we treat professionals doesn’t mean holding them to the same standards—it means treating them with the same respect we would grant professionals. (An Off-Off-Broadway play and a Broadway play, too, should be held to very different standards.)
So here’s my answer to the Campus Arts Question: Spec A&E will no longer be publishing campus arts articles that read like press releases—and nor will we be picking on kids we know who also happen to participate in Columbia’s art scene. Instead, Spec A&E is going to do its best to run reasoned, enthusiastic, extensive, and fair coverage of campus arts.
…And interview lots of celebrities, of course.