man, i love this blog.

Christine,

Re: specialization versus generalization. I think I may have introduced a contradiction here by simultaneously arguing for specialization but against centralization. The problem being that specialization is a form of centralization. Yikes.

And it’s true, many of Toronto’s highly productive artists, like yourself, have made a great go of it by applying a generalist’s touch. (To be a generalist used to mean you were a “Renaissance Man” – one to be respected and admired for your skill over a wide range of tasks and intellectual pursuits.)

We need specialists, that’s true, but we need generalists too. So perhaps the argument is simply that our community has swung too far to the side of the generalist.

i particularly like your point about specialization (or the lack thereof). it’s so true! i’ve lost track of how many times i’ve worked myself up into a tizzy and gone “i’ll just do it myself!!” without even trying to find someone who might actually know what they’re doing. and i’m so quick to scoff at actors who just act – “you’re never going to work! you have to be industrious!”

but i think you’re quite right – we might be very surprised at the number of non-entertainment related lawyers, accountants, graphic designers, publicists, carpenters and such who would get quite a kick out of moonlighting in the theatre for a spell. we tend to forget how truly neat this industry looks from the outside. i complain about how insular the community is, but i’m sure not doing anything to help the situation.

huh… you’ve given me much pause to think.