TRAVEL DIARY

A weblog regularly updated by Jodi Rose.

Tuesday, December 6, 2005

2:06 PM
Posted by jodi rose

DIY fireworks on sale now!

Happy Finnish Independence Day!

Thank you smartyblog for recognising the blog as a medium worth celebrating, and for investing the generous prize money in this competition. and thanks to the judging panel for selecting my idiosyncratic raving as the winner! I love youse all....

http://www.smartyhost.com.au/bloggerwinner.html

'Hi Jodi, I was scanning The Age and there was a report that your singing bridges site had won first prize as Australia's best blog competition. $10K first prize. I'm so happy for you. I can't believe I used to live with a blog star, I'm going to have to tell all my friends. Congratulations babe.' (sample friendly email)

It's interesting, in the range of responses to this award I've received from complete strangers (up to about 6 so far - the rest are congratulations from friends and family similar to the above) half of them are incredibly negative. There's obviously a lot of unhappy people out there. Two wrote anonymously, one asking for tax money back and the second below, so I will address your concerns here.

"Suggest a bridge
message: I'd like to suggest that you record the sound of yourself liberating us from your pompous drain by jumping off the Westgate Bridge in Melbourne. This will be public money well spent."

First, this is a sad reflection of the bias in Australian culture which tends to privilege success in sport or business over creative or intellectual activity, and of course is a classic example of the tall poppy syndrome. Second, you would be amazed to notice if you bothered to read or listen to any of my work, that I actually do have a sense of humour about it, and am not at all pompous. In fact I had a conversation only the other day wiith the residency chiefs where I am currently guarding a bridge, about various ways of coming to a grisly end to provide good stories for the local newspaper.

"I work in a 'mundane' 'McJob' as you put it and pay the taxes that fund your little escapades...I might work a 'McJob' and not possess the higher intelectual powers you so obviously belive you hold....but don't put me down for having a McJob as the taxes I pay help fund your greater purpose!!
Simon"

And in response to Simon (who did me the courtesy of including his email address, and not hiding - thank you!) I also pay taxes, strange though it may be. I would greatly prefer my taxes to go towards funding art projects that add something to the world, or into education and health, than to continuing to support this paranoid and insane climate of fear and terror which the government appears to believe is necessary.

Yes I have referred to being in a 'mcjob' which is not to denigrate all the people who do work in 'mundane' areas - I have infinite respect for the work anyone does to survive. My point is that for my own personal life satisfaction, having had the advantages of access to education and the opportunity to choose how I would like to focus my time and energy in this life, I celebrate the ability to create a life that is outside the expected range of social aspirations. I know from feedback and conversations with people all over the world, that this provides inspiration and a different perspective on ways of perceiving and living - which is equally important as doing other kinds of work.

criticism about not being a 'professional blogger' mystifies me - surely this is a medium about personal expression. yes certain conventions have arisen, but not adhering to them doesn't make the writing less valid. strange. and remember 'don't believe the hype'.

It's a tenuous fragmented existence, which I wouldn't expect many people to find enjoyable or want to undertake - and part of my writing project is to celebrate the joy of sharing great company, good food and the love and support of friends, family and strangers while exploring the world through this crazy art project. I'm really happy that all the time I thought was being a little bit 'wasted' or at least diverted from focusing on making serious, more important artistic contributions, on keeping my blog up to date - has been rewarded!

thank you for reading, and have a lovely day.
xx jodi