Performing arts are building blocks of the culture of a region and it gives identity to a nation. We live in a society where performing arts is the most neglected part of our academia. Be it music, theatre, dance and so on. The discipline has always been considered inappropriate to pursue as a career.
University of Karachi (UoK), one of the biggest public sector university lacks a department for performing arts. Most of the departments which come under faculty of arts at UoK are basically related to the sphere of social sciences that is sociology, psychology, criminology etc.
The reason can be attributed to the way our society fails to acknowledge the importance of this discipline, lack of interest of pupils, education system’s fault or religious backgrounds. Another dimension to it is the hold of various student organizations in the varsity which on various occasions have proved to be against establishing a department for this discipline.
According to a report, the musicology department at the National College of Arts at Punjab University in Lahore has moved out after threats of ‘dire consequences’ by a student’s organization and the music department of Sindh University is also closed down due to similar circumstances. Evidently no one is paying heed to these influences in our academic structure.Being a student of University of Karachi, I have first hand experience of seeing no extra curricular activities related to performing arts on regular basis in majority of the departments. English department is an exception. The rest of the talent which is by the way in abundance in our institution remains unnoticed.
Due to afore mentioned situation and lack of proper institutions, parents despite of knowing their children’s potential in creative fields of art do not stand with their career moves. They have a fair idea that it will not prove fruitful in the long run and are not considered as respectable professions.
The root of this tragedy is our government’s and publics indifferent attitude towards promotion of art and culture. Now artists are not accepted as a normal being in our society and on the other hand government institutions deprive them of their chances of growth without influence from outside. It’s high time to re open the question of our cultural identity because not only artists but Pakistani art is also dying.
Date: 27th aug, 2010
goooood keeep it up
ReplyDeleteSolution? Concept of performing arts should be inculcated in students from the school level (not many schools are doing so at present!) so that our society eventually accepts it as a part of academic curriculum in colleges and uni's!
ReplyDeleteZehra gr8 job.. u highlighted one of the ironic topic. well written!
ReplyDeleteit is true that we all praise our musicians but no one dares to grow the roots of it in our society so that the talented pupils can join and become one of the well known artists..:)
ReplyDeleteIn general,it is indeed a good theme you've opted but as far as Karachi University is concerned you cannot expect the emergence of such a department pertaining to infusing the skill of performing arts into students. Broadly speaking, a place where 'Khudai Fojdaars' keep an eagle eye on intermingling of genders then it is a sideline to expect induction of such a program that require both boys and girls to learn this skill. Because i feel this subject will be more practical in nature then dealing in theories.
ReplyDeleteApart from all different crises, this country's been facing an identity crisis since it's inception.The 'Pakistani' identity is synonymous with being a Muslim rather than belonging to this country. We are a nation which glorifies warriors and plunderers e.g. Ahmed Shah Abdali, Mahmood Ghaznavi etc. and it has been ingrained in our national psyche that we consider soldiers some sort of supreme beings.
ReplyDeleteIt seems we have been left with a consistent legacy of rancour towards the people and government of India that extends to our common cultural heritage. State apathy and sometimes outright state suppression have further stifled Pakistan’s arts and culture. Today we talk of a cultural identity, or even a collective sense of being, and hold a variety of perceptions attached to nationalism and community. Many of us remain interested but ultimately passive observers through decades of feeling shame and nostalgia at the neglect of the arts in Pakistan. Official state documentation doesn’t reflect this disillusionment. Creativity does.
P.S. In 1981, the government of Pakistan banned public performances of classical dancing by women on stage and all other media. The official document stated that dance had “obscenity and nudity” and was against the religion of Islam. Over decades, generations of Pakistanis have grown up being told that not simply dance but all of culture is taboo. As a result, most performing arts, especially dance, have never been actively patronised in Pakistan.
Classical dance as an institution is practically non-existent today. Before 1977, when General Ziaul Haq took over as military dictator, there were a number of academies and some institutions but by the end of the seventies, they had closed down and almost all professional dancers left the country.
G.R.
well written zehra:)
ReplyDeletepakistan art is near to its demise so we all should do anything for it before its too late.....
in order to promote it we need to pay artists well.
ReplyDeleteif only we had one ......... sniff sniff
ReplyDeletegr8 article zehra
its true...we are really lacking in this sector...
ReplyDeletegood to read the article...nice effort zehra! keep it up!!
ReplyDeleteAs long as the Mullah mentality remains ingrained in the local populace, the masses will treat the artists as "Meerasi".
ReplyDeleteA month ago, I came across a student of KU's Mass Communications department who was having an argument with his friends that the latest Coke Studio hit "Jugni" contained blasphemous content,judging by his appearance he didn't looked like an IJT follower ...
I was baffled and shocked, but it was nothing surprising as the majority still consider music as something disrespecting towards the religious ethos and morals !