My argument, my point, is clear and I stand by it: I’m not going to try to dictate something that needs to be as malleable, adaptable, and fluid as the division of labor in theater. That’s all. It’s simple, really. I mean, I am the one who posted a long entry about the pure unsustainability of the traveling theater artist, aren’t I? I stand by that as well. I’m just not willing to go as far as you want me to — claiming that the only way forward is to promote every theater artist as a generalist.

Also, my comment regarding the two sides of Scott Walters had to do with reading the very touching posts from you and your wife on 37 Days, and then immediately seeing your aggressive comments. That’s all.

Furthermore, I don’t want to be divisive. I think that while there is something to be said for what you call the bearing of teeth, it’s overdone — especially on blogs. I want to help people move forward in new ways, not beat them over the head with the notion that there is only one way to fix the myriad of problems facing theater in this country. I’m sorry if that does not jive with your vision of things.

It’s funny, I just got through reading your contributions to the 37 Days blog, and then I see these comments appear in my mailbox…two sides of Scott Walters.

Listen, I agree that it is all connected, I’m just not convinced that there needs to be such an absolute approach to the idea of the generalist. And, I happen to believe that specialization will continue to occur whether we like it or not, and there is a way that it can happen while attaining a higher level of sustainability.

Furthermore, I’m not about to start arguing about what the “primary justification” for art is. That’s not for anyone to decide, and I think any artist of any kind should question anyone who tries to put limitations on what their justifications are. They are what they are, and they’re entitled to them, even if I think they suck. That’s what art is.

By the way, for those of you reading this blog who don’t already know it, you can find Scott Walters blog at theatreideas.blogspot.com. I’ve put an endnote in this entry to lead you to the post he is speaking of.

OK, fine. But in response to your statement: “I think it is fruitless to try to dissuade an artist of any kind from focusing on what they have found to be their core talent,” i would respectfully…quibble. This whole paragraph reflects the “art is about personal self-expression, which is a mysterious power” approach to the arts that I reject as a primary justification for anything in the arts. It is time for artists to get beyond making a fetish out of a single-minded commitment to their personal “vision,” and realize that they are citizens of this world and of their community.

I agree totally with your last paragraph. But I suggest that you and your friend take a look at some 990s and figure out what such specialization requires. (Hint: it has something to do with a constant reliance on grant money from large corporations.)

It’s all connected; it all needs to be treated as being connected. Green theatre is part of a larger theatrical ecosystem, and you can’t isolate certain aspects and pretend the rest don’t exist.