The Art of Politics
- Jan 28, 2019
- 3 min read
Unlike most years, January has been anything but dull, even if, like me, you are totally despairing about the state of our politics and the uncertain future ahead.
Quite coincidentally, I seem to have read and seen a great deal which has made me take a longer view of our situation. It doesn't solve anything, but it helps to realise that people and politics don't change, even if the situations are different. I started the year by reading Michelle Obama's autobiography Becoming which is refreshingly honest about the highs and lows of her life. Coming from the poor side of Chicago she learnt early about racism and sexism but was fortunate enough to come from a loving, grounded family who taught her she could achieve anything she wanted to.
Her telling of life in the White House and as First Lady is quite humbling given that discrimination was ever present. Her achievements in creating the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, are a testament to what can be achieved with collaboration and determination. Until recently, I have felt that we in the UK were somehow more inclusive, less racially biased, than the US but sadly it is obvious that, across the world, people are becoming more judgmental, more discriminatory, more unkind.
Conflict may bring out the best in people but it can also bring out the worst. Jonathan Coe's Middle England is a wry look at the bizarre hysteria that has gripped the British people in
recent years, from the pride and outward-looking Olympics of 2012 to the madness of the EU Referendum and the divisions that have now torn families and communities apart. Politics is in an unknown place and, whatever your views, there is no going back from the changes that Brexit has wrought. Though very topical, this is a great story in its own right, highlighting our struggle to be decent human beings often fighting against our ingrained discrimination and bias.
In 18th century England, with Queen Anne on the throne, politics was not so very different. England is at war with France and Sarah Churchill, the Queen's favourite and wife of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, rules the land while her husband is in charge of the war. The Queen is weak and ill and usually obeys Sarah's instructions regarding Parliament. At the time the House was very evenly split and passions rose high on many issues. The robust behaviour of the House of Commons in 2019 is little changed from that of the Whigs and Tories in 1708! It took some courage therefore, for Anne to veto a bill in 1708 - not to arm the Scottish militia - the last monarch to do. Perhaps our own Queen Elizabeth may yet be persuaded to veto the Brexit bill! Seriously, The Favourite is raucous and gutsy with brilliant performances by Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz, and is this year's must see film so far.
And to prove that politics hasn't changed much in 700 years, we jump back to Richard II, recently shown on NT Live starring Simon Russell Beale as Richard. This production is stark and brutal and totally absorbing. As Simon Russell Beale says in this video, it is about Richard's search for his identity and a power struggle - what could be more relevant to our current situation! It is showing at the Almeda Theatre and screened again by NT Live from 11-13 February. Not for the fainthearted but heartily recommended.
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