Read on Twitter
Fishing and The Arts:
The much discussed them and us divide between the fishing industry and the creative sector feels like such a needless false equivalence it’s making me burst.
A thread...
The much discussed them and us divide between the fishing industry and the creative sector feels like such a needless false equivalence it’s making me burst.
A thread...
1. The Economic Argument:
Fishing has only ever been 12% of GDP involving under 0.1% of the UKs workforce. Fishing is not such a hot topic because of money but because it’s an emotive piece of propaganda about ‘hard working British men taking back control of our waters’
Fishing has only ever been 12% of GDP involving under 0.1% of the UKs workforce. Fishing is not such a hot topic because of money but because it’s an emotive piece of propaganda about ‘hard working British men taking back control of our waters’
Economics cont...
Fishing was never about money, it’s about the age old tale that the EU is stealing from Britain like grifters. The same way ‘Scotland lives off English taxes.’ This tiny Anglo-centric island peddles a superiority complex and a martyr complex simultaneously.
Fishing was never about money, it’s about the age old tale that the EU is stealing from Britain like grifters. The same way ‘Scotland lives off English taxes.’ This tiny Anglo-centric island peddles a superiority complex and a martyr complex simultaneously.
Economics cont...
The economic argument for the arts is redundant. Very few could explain in plain English how those figures were generated or where the money went before. Now the world has changed, the economics will have. EG What is EdFringe without uncontrolled tourism?
The economic argument for the arts is redundant. Very few could explain in plain English how those figures were generated or where the money went before. Now the world has changed, the economics will have. EG What is EdFringe without uncontrolled tourism?
2. Why are the industries struggling?
Fishing and the arts are struggling for VERY different reasons. The arts are struggling after years of under investment (compared to other EU countries) following the New Labour money/ training surge so there isn’t enough £ to pay everyone.
Fishing and the arts are struggling for VERY different reasons. The arts are struggling after years of under investment (compared to other EU countries) following the New Labour money/ training surge so there isn’t enough £ to pay everyone.
Reasons for struggle...
With that, the arts have always struggled because they are built on a hybrid corporate model ‘the Arts industry’ and historic models of benevolence. Are we a charity or an industry? We can’t be both, economically this is confusing but still unresolved.
With that, the arts have always struggled because they are built on a hybrid corporate model ‘the Arts industry’ and historic models of benevolence. Are we a charity or an industry? We can’t be both, economically this is confusing but still unresolved.
Reasons for struggle...
The arts sector that pretended to cope before is now struggling so much because the necessary restrictions as a result of Covid 19 mean we cannot do our jobs or engage with our ‘customers’. The pandemic has broken us.
The arts sector that pretended to cope before is now struggling so much because the necessary restrictions as a result of Covid 19 mean we cannot do our jobs or engage with our ‘customers’. The pandemic has broken us.
Reasons for struggle...
Where as, although impacted by Covid the fishing industry is struggling because of Brexit and the Governments poor handling of fishing policies. Fishermen would also argue they are struggling after years of EU red tape, squeezing their small fleets.
Where as, although impacted by Covid the fishing industry is struggling because of Brexit and the Governments poor handling of fishing policies. Fishermen would also argue they are struggling after years of EU red tape, squeezing their small fleets.
Reasons for struggle...
This is made even more complicated given that a high percentage of fishermen voted for Brexit. There are lots of ways to spin this story but essentially they didn’t get what they thought they had voted for. Pointing to how confused an idea ‘Brexit’ was.
This is made even more complicated given that a high percentage of fishermen voted for Brexit. There are lots of ways to spin this story but essentially they didn’t get what they thought they had voted for. Pointing to how confused an idea ‘Brexit’ was.
3. Class Wars.
Making the economic case plays perfectly into the class politics used as a distraction from sorting the UK out. Fishermen (salt of the Earth) versus Artists (the bourgeois). It doesn’t have to be either or, we can all eat fish and watch a play at the same time!
Making the economic case plays perfectly into the class politics used as a distraction from sorting the UK out. Fishermen (salt of the Earth) versus Artists (the bourgeois). It doesn’t have to be either or, we can all eat fish and watch a play at the same time!
Class wars cont...
If we continue to bump our gums about how angry we are that another group of people were supported but we weren’t then it plays into the notion that ‘the arts’ think they’re better than everyone else.
If we continue to bump our gums about how angry we are that another group of people were supported but we weren’t then it plays into the notion that ‘the arts’ think they’re better than everyone else.
Class Wars Cont...
This is ideal for the Government who then never actually have to address economic reform, that works for all - which leaves the profiteering Rees-Moggs of the world to quip about fish being proud to be British whilst earning money by virtue of being rich.
This is ideal for the Government who then never actually have to address economic reform, that works for all - which leaves the profiteering Rees-Moggs of the world to quip about fish being proud to be British whilst earning money by virtue of being rich.
Where is all of this going?
I hope there’s a world where we can see our political difference (yes I’m also angry at fishermen who voted Brexit only to be fucked over themselves) and make asks for ourselves without having to piss on anyone else who is scared and struggling.
I hope there’s a world where we can see our political difference (yes I’m also angry at fishermen who voted Brexit only to be fucked over themselves) and make asks for ourselves without having to piss on anyone else who is scared and struggling.
Some resources for some stuff:
GDP
https://thefishingdaily.com/featured-news/3-5-of-britains-gdp-for-uks-fishing-industry-impossible-says-professor/
Cultural Investment
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Government_expenditure_on_recreation,_culture_and_religion
Fishermen Voting Brexit
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/9282/
GDP
https://thefishingdaily.com/featured-news/3-5-of-britains-gdp-for-uks-fishing-industry-impossible-says-professor/
Cultural Investment
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Government_expenditure_on_recreation,_culture_and_religion
Fishermen Voting Brexit
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/9282/
