Perhaps the best way to get to grips with the over sentimentilisation (made up word I'm sure) of our supposed cultural identity and sacrosanct 'jerseyness' is to buy a copy of 'The Heritage Industry : Britain in a climate of decline', by Robert Hewison (Publisher: London : Methuen, 1987. ISBN: 0413161102) which provides all the difficult and at times unpalatable answers to Jon Carter's latest predicament. Hewison's dispasionate review of the British tendency to wrap the past in cotton wool to the detriment of investing in the here and now makes uncomfortable reading for the well meaning but highly inefectual daily mail reading do gooder civic society types who inhabit the cultural landscape and populate the infinite number of boards set up to 'protect and conserve'.
What is most interesting is that JC has chosen to rail against his political masters so publicly (and with wife in SOJ communications unit also...oooo errrr) in a kind of end game that sets up a death or glory scenario. Has he caught the SSSwine flu? This has never, ever, been the strategy in the past which was always spent in a long succession of vol au vents and house wine opening evenings pressing the flesh with the styleless politicos draped in Laura Ashley and M&S jumbo cordoroy.
So adept at the art of brown nosing (no offence to my non white bruvvers) have the JHT been that the've built their empire almost entirely on their ability to get close to the people at the top and convince them that there is some considerable kudos in pertaining to have an interest (differs from actual understanding) in matters cultural.
That it has now reached this full blown ultimatum might tell us that their political and judicial connections are on the wane. Bailiff gawn, Vibert feeding pigeons, Freddy too busy taking the evening class at Highlands on 'masterplanning' and Deputy Labey, one time assistant minister firmly on the inside now gone native in defence of the greater good.
Although 20 years old Hewison's book is a must read to anybody interested in detatching the emotional from the actual and learning how to deal with the past in a way that is both pragmatic, respectful and economically viable.
In boom times when things expand and we tend to feel good about spening our money on culture (see national lottery) but when the shit hits the fan perhaps Heritage, like those that operate in the commercial free market sapce that has come to describe contemporary culture, need to appreciate that a period of stabilisation and reflection is essential. Ultimately I don't want to see less money reaching cultural projects - I just want to see a more equitable distribution across the ESC portfolio and for empire building tendancies to be put on hold.
And hey - where are the mighty 'Council for Culture' on this one? Did you even know you had such a thing? And do you know how much is costs you the taxpayer to run?
