Name: Art debate by CBCHereAndNow
Duration: 8 min 22 s
Description: Here is Gill's conversation with artist Amanda PL and Jay Soule

As a member of Gen-X I need some help from the outrage community on what exactly I should be upset about here. Norval Morrisseau, we can all agree, is a Canadian national treasure. Morrisseau is an iconic and original artist who painted in the European tradition, with European materials and took his influences from many sources, indigenous and non-indigenous. His later work was particularly influenced by the stained glass windows he saw in Christian churches. Back in the day we didn't know we were supposed to be upset by all this. So, my question is should I also be upset about other things that I'm not? Emily Carr?! Seriously! What about rock n' roll? Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, etc.? They clearly appropriated African American music. Should I be upset with African Americans for creating their music on European instruments? Should I be upset about Canadians making "Southern Barbecue"? Or anyone who isn't French Canadian making poutine? Where's the line? Help me out here.

The other thing to be aware of is that in Canada, since the beginning of colonization by European settlers, many indigenous arts have been illegal. It has been illegal for indigenous people to produce or consume (to use western commercial art terminology) forms of indigenous art that were not expressly made for the consumption by white European visitors and settlers. When Europeans came here, one of the first changes they enforced was a different economic system, and that is where the seizure and control of indigenous lands, resources, and cultures began. White settlers outlawed any form of indigenous art that was not profitable.

Sean Leon performing Pretty Girls Put Boys In Cemeteries empowered by the INITIATIVE™ 

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Art debate

CBCHereAndNow

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