Freelance Reflections #136

With assignments done, I’ve now also finished my placement! In the pipeline I’ve got an interview for a potential next placement, and ACE application, but before that I have my end of year exhibition! I’m still working on it, aiming to complete it this weekend! The private view will be this coming Friday 14th June, after She Grrrowls the day before.

Goldsmiths University, Friday 14th June 6-10pm

I’m losing student and gaining new ones, and the mental exhaustion is hitting me, but I still have so much on my mind, and there’s lots of changes to come. That being said, I also got to go to Thirty Seconds to Mars on Tuesday and went to see a screening of Free Party: A Folk History the next day, which was really interesting documentary.

Catford Mews, Thursday 13th June 8:30-10:30pm

The film challenged me in some ways in terms of my current situation feeling quite confronting as there are a group of people who appear to have drug problems squatting next door to me, and much of the film was about squatting as a lifestyle choice, and drugs were very much a part of the scene, and those I went with were also ex-squatters. Likewise, it makes me think of the fact that whe the it’s a choice or not, our freedom of choice should still be protected (people often argh about sexuality not being a choice, for example, but for me this is irrelevant as we should have that freedom regardless of whether it’s a choice or not).

I’ve also visited squats and performed poetry there, and as long as people are respectful neighbours, I wouldn’t necessarily be against it if someone wants to live in those conditions (which not always but often appears to be a political choice) rather than pay the extortionate rents we have in London.

I obviously have no judgment to those with substance abuse issues and may even be placed to working with people in rehabilitation. However, I also can’t help but feel vulnerable and anxious about people who are actively using, not wanting my safety to be compromised in any way. I wondered what the movement documented in the film would be like if drugs weren’t involved. I don’t like to dismiss any genre or music as a whole, but techno and deep house are probably my least favourite genres of music. My view is that you actually have to be on drugs to enjoy it! In the Q&A some squatters in the audience were complaining that similar parties now cost money, but also played drum and bass… which I actually much prefer.

A question from the audience seemed to pit squatters who liked to party against those who supported the right to roam was skilfully argued. It’s important to find the commonalities in the causes and resist the government’s desire to divide us.