In his recent editorial, The Citizen's Neil Godbout claims that when artists stand up for their legal rights, they risk putting themselves and other artists in financial peril.
Even when legal agreements are allegedly broken and exploitation or misuse have allegedly occurred, Mr. Godbout's advice is to not "bite the hand that feeds."
As if to say artists should consider themselves lucky to be compensated in the first place.
Essentially, Mr. Godbout obviously shares and blatantly reflects a common misunderstanding about the workings and value of the creative economy. He would have us believe that art and those who create it are not as valued in our society as say plumbers, doctors, lawyers and perhaps even newspapermen.
That somehow the artist's endeavours aren't worthy of the same kind of legal protection as say that of a more respected professional in our society. Mr. Godbout might have you believe that giving an artist "exposure" is the same thing as real financial remuneration.
It is not.
I'm irritated when I hear promoters and event planners, and now a newspaperman, insist that musician's should be happy to play for free, or the visual artist donate their little painting for an auction without compensation simply for the "promotional value."
Art has a value. Artist's and creators of art deserve to be compensated and deserve the same legal protection that other professionals receive.
A contract that is not upheld is just another piece of paper, no matter what the deal.
A deal is a deal.
If Mr. Godbout honestly believes that serious repercussions follow anyone who asserts their rights under the law, then God help us. Seriously?
A person with the power to control editorial content in a daily newspaper believes we shouldn't rock the boat, or fight for our rights.
Advising people to just shut up and take it, or, "don't bite the hand that feeds."
By logical extension I may be able to surmise, that had Mr. Godbout been an editorialist in the early twentieth century, he would have likely offered this same advice to women seeking the right to vote.
Bill Russell
Prince George
