While experiencing a lazy Sunday, i come across Show Case. One of my favorite Canadian produced channels. On this day i was whatching Men with Brooms, a Canadian produced Canadian directed, Canadian acted movie, co-staring Leslie Nielsen. Even the content was Canadian, it was about curling. This movie is pretty much one of the few Canadian regulated movies that i actually like.
Yes Canada is capable in providing entertaining films, but this regulation, the Canadian Radio-Television Commission (CRTC) basically requiring films shown in Canada to be created by Canadians, is a ridiculous law. This approval is required in order to win certain prestigious awards like Juno's. Just because a particular movie isn't fully created by Canadians, doesn't mean it lacks Canadian patriotism. Such films including My Big fat Greek Wedding, and ironically Juno. My Big fat Greek Wedding was written by a woman from Winnipeg, but the fact that it was produced by Americans made the movie obsolete, even though the content was Canadian related, i mean come on a movie about about Greek immigrant family. Juno on the other hand not only starred a Canadian, and was directed by a Canadian, again was not deemed Canadian worthy even though the academy awards absolutely praised the movie. Canadian born Brian Adams was also rejected in the same fashion, because some of his songs were co-written by an American, the CRTC, and the JUNO awards rejected him. I stand by these artists, for some regulatory people to tell you that your work isn't Canadian, that your not Canadian, just because you associate with anyone aside from Canadians you become less Canadian.
Instead i am a fan of capitalism, and this law permits Canadian broadcasting from reaching their economic potential. For example, in recent years, the CBC bought the rights and broad casted Raptors games and Jays games in order to get high ratings and satisfy the CRTC. I mean i expect more out of the CBC, we don't need another sports channel, The Raptors aren't even owned by Canadians, and has more Euro's on that team than Canadians.
Private broadcasting companies should be aloud to broad cast whatever they want, and maybe then less people would turn to cable.
P.S. Canada was well represented in the MTV movie awards, through Mike Myers and Seth Roegan, and that Canadian patriotism can be promoted with or without the CRTC.
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6 comments:
Interesting stuff. I agree, not recognizing films like Juno as 'Canadian content' is ridiculous. The Canadian content regulations Canadian stations must adhere to are perhaps what's driving the trend of American companies buying stations that broadcast in Canada so they can play films and shows that will be popular.
On the other hand, how often does one see a film that is not only written and directed by a Canadian, but also takes place in Canada or involves the country in some way? What do you think about the need to protect our national identity/consciousness?
First of all, I loved the title of your blog. It definitely caught my attention and made me want to read on! Good job with that. As for the content of your written piece - that is some interesting information.
So, let me get this straight - According to the CRTC, in order to be deemed a Canadian movie, it must be created solely by Canadian directors? That's bogus! The CRTC Regulations are not helping the situation in Canada out at all. It seems like they are trying to Americanize Canada and convert us to being more like them. I'm not familiar with the CRTC, but I'm assuming that if it is deemed an "American movie" (even if it has Canadian actors/actresses in it), it must portray more of an Americanized culture than a Canadian culture, correct? I think one of the reasons for this is because we are tied so closely with the Americans, economically speaking, so it's easy for them to taint us with their culture. I hate the fact that many people who are not from North America automatically assume that Canadians and Americans are the same...we're NOT! The fact that our film industry is not booming is definitely not helping out all. Others are not seeing our culture around the world and because of this, I feel like Canadians lack a “true identity.” Of course, we Canadians know what our identity is, but there are barely any reinforcements for us to relate to! Kids that are growing up in today’s day and age probably know more about the American culture then they do about the Canadian culture because that is all they are exposed to in the media.
When reading your blog, I thought to myself, what if we abolish the CRTC, (I know, that’s very unlikely and probably not practical, but it was just a thought), but I don’t think it would really help Canada grow at all. If we had no CRTC, it would probably just allow America to penetrate more deeply into our society…not to impose their culture on us, but just to make money because that is all that they seem to want. Basically, what I’m trying to say here, is that with or without the CRTC, America will continue to be greedy and will probably have its way with the Canadian film industry and there is probably nothing we can do about it. That’s just the way life is.
Sashpolitics, thank you for bringing up the question: What do you think about the need to protect our national identity/consciousness?
I think that this is really what this issue is all about.
First, let me just say that yes, I do agree that it is strange to not recognize a movie as "Canadian" just because it involved some kind of American collaboration, even if it was mostly done by Canadians.
I am assuming that the CRTC is doing this in an attempt to distinguish Canada from the U.S., and in a way, preserve our identity.
However, I ask myself, what is our identity? I have grown up in Ontario most of my life, and what I love about it is the diversity of people from around the world, each brining their own cultural identities. I myself was born in Costa Rica, and my parents were born and raised in Nicaragua.
I honestly would not know how to answer someone who asked me about what defines Canadian culture.
Just recently, someone asked what a typical Canadian food was, and someone answered "Tim Hortons". By the way, according to my understanding, Tim Hortons is now owned by Americans.
I don't believe we have a cohesive culture across Canada. I think it might be quite different depending on where you go within the country.
Personally, I don't mind people saying that we are the same as the Americans. In many ways we are. I have heard people say that Canadians are more tolerant of multiculturalism, but really, what major cultural differences are there between us and the U.S.?
While I do agree that the rules that the CRTC makes are kind of ridiculous in some ways and fairly arbitrary, if you really think about it, they have to draw the line somewhere. I mean, what really defines a movie as "Canadian"? The director? The representation of "Canadian culture"? The actors? The soundtrack? There are so many criteria that could be used that they have to pick something and go from there. I suppose doing it based on directors is fairly easy to do as compared to figuring out the proportion of Canadian actors in the movie or just how "Canadian" the movie is. It's at least not quite as subjective, if nothing else.
Anyway, I'd have to agree with Jeffrey (nice name, btw :P ) up above, in regard to just what "Canadian culture" really is. Most of what I see as Canadian culture is primarily made up of stereotypes (small towns, lumberjacks, beavers, etc.) or specific regional cultures (Acadian, French Canadian, Albertan, etc.). It's very tricky to really define our culture.
To end off, sorry for the advertisement, but I recently wrote a blog on the CRTC and Canadian culture, so you can check it out by clicking on my name, if you want. I guess great minds think alike :)
I do believe that a major external influence on Canada is the United States and Canadians struggle with how to promote their image as Canadians and separate themselves from Americans.
The two cultures are VERY similar, but I would not like to be called American. I am proud of being Canadian and would not want it to be any other way.
Canada is different from the United States for a number of reasons. Politically speaking, values in Canada lean more towards the idea of multiculturalism and social diversity. In the United States, they value assimilation and want to turn their immigrants to be just like them. I believe that Canada encourages more collectivism than the United States who prefers individualism. (Don’t get me wrong, I am aware that Canada is not as collectivist as, China, let’s say, but we are much more collectivist then America, don’t you think?)
There are also differences in the lifestyle, culture and history. When I was growing up, I used to watch a lot of T.V. and of course, the shows were mainly American. Have you ever noticed the actors jumping up and down on their bed with their shoes on? Walking in the kitchen with their shoes on? Walking on carpet with their shoes on in their own house?! I was brought up to respect my home as well as other people’s homes, so seeing these people run around with their shoes on was mind boggling…as far as I’m concerned, I think that is the “American” thing to do. That’s just one difference that I’m going to put out there with regards to lifestyle.
What about history? Well, I’m sure we all know that America definitely has a lot more “bad history” then Canada does. Think about the African-Americans for example. I’m sure they have a negative view towards Americans and not so much towards us Canadians.
I want to preserve our Canadian identity because we are different then Americans. We are not the same and I would not like to be characterized as being the same as an American, (not because they are bad people, but because I LOVE being a Canadian).
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