In an issue-filled world, there are a variety of pressing, urgent topics affecting millions worldwide and which deserve to be reported on: health-care reform, the economy and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, for example – things that matter. In these especially trying times, it would seem that writing about arts and entertainment would be unnecessary, if not superfluous.
Even in the bubble of the ivory tower, our community isn’t immune to the serious challenges and effects of the global climate. The world of academia is a place of budget cuts, student-fee increases and furloughs. No, we’re not quite to the Depression-era soup kitchen lines yet, but people can certainly argue that to indulge in fun and games while people are losing jobs and unable to pay their bills would be inappropriate.
Even during the ’30s and ’40s, though, artists still worked, and people still went to the theater and movies and listened to the radio. Despite bleak circumstances, art still played an important role in people’s lives.
The contemporary entertainment world is easily dismissed as a luxury for the bourgeoisie and elite, but it’s more than just Michael Bay’s big on-screen explosions, the Black Eyed Peas’ empty lyrics and Lauren Conrad’s histrionics.
Their work is important, too ““ people need to have means of escape, even if it’s temporary, from the harsh circumstances of reality.
But it’s really the creative expression and interpretation of the world that warrants attention and merit. Current events, even if dour, and the struggles of being human can be communicated through the arts and remain a valuable part of our everyday lives.
In a campus and in a world where we are all focused on cutting back and making do with less, the stories of musicians, dancers, actors, writers, of all artists ““ aspiring or otherwise, mainstream or independent ““ still need to be told.
Our staff will continue to work together as a team to report on everything from Westwood to Hollywood and beyond, and we will strive to find new ways to share the stories of others. We will strive to be worthy of your attention, and to be of interest to you as much as the other sections of the paper: News, Sports, Viewpoint and of course, the sudoku.
The exact ways in which we are going to modify and improve our coverage are still a work in progress. I’ve been with the Daily Bruin long enough to accept that the best-laid plans of mice and keyboards (or something like that ““ I’m a political science student; it’s not like they teach poetry in my classes) often go awry. A student publication is, in fact, run by students who are learning as they go along, in addition to studying for midterms and finals and trying to have some semblance of a social life.
Still, our job is to produce content that is interesting and engaging to our readers and our goal is to find new and creative ways to present such information.
The new Daily Bruin Web site will most likely play the biggest role in shaping the different mediums and methods in which our reporters share news and features with readers. The Bruin’s lifestyle and culture magazine, prime, will continue to print throughout the year, and our staff will make it a priority to improve the way we support our mission.
So while this is an era of modest means and limited resources, valuing culture and creativity is of no disrespect to the plights of others, and it is my hope that we provide the same, if not better, coverage of the arts for the UCLA community.
Though this is a time of downsizing and deficits, our ambition as student journalists will never be cut and our belief in the importance of the arts will never be eliminated.
Truong is the 2009-2010 A&E editor. E-mail Truong atetruong@media.ucla.edu.