Peter Cant, 27 January 2013

PARASITISM (see Wikipedia) is a non-mutual relationship between organisms of a

different species, where one organism benefits at the expense of the other, the host.

* * Unlike predators, parasites are generally much smaller than their host, both are

special cases of CONSUMER-RESOURCE INTERACTIONS.

* * Parasitism is different from PARASITOID. Parasitoid generally kill their hosts.

Parasites do not.

* * Parasites reduce host biological fitness (by general or specialized pathology, such

as parasitic castration and impairment of host behavior). Parasites increase their

fitness by exploiting hosts for resources necessary for their survival i.e. FOOD,

WATER, HEAT, HABITAT, TRANSMISSION.

* * * * * In many cases it is difficult to demonstrate that the host is harmed. And the

eradication of all parasites would not necessarily be beneficial. Parasites account for

as much or more than half of life's diversity. They perform an important ecological role

(by weakening prey) that ecosystems would take a long time to adapt to without. On

rare but significant occasions they may provide opportunity for transfer of genetic

material between species, which may facilitate evolutionary changes that would

otherwise not take place…

ETYMOLOGY

So firstly the etymology is very interesting. Broken down, the image the combined

roots offer us is that of SITTING BESIDE. For ancient Romans the parasite supported

the master. For us modern people the parasite is seen as the one who takes

advantage of the host. We could extend this image to something approaching

patronage - the poet or pauper who sits at the master's table. I am interested in the

image of the ARTIST as PARASITE. The conversation steered clear of Marxist terms

and I tried to steer it away from the idea of THE ARTS as parasite as opposed to the

individual artist. But all these things naturally and importantly fed in.

Notes on the discussion (lots of currents, meeting, creating whirlpools)

THE LANGUAGE OF DIVISION (POLITICAL LANGUAGE)

Those on welfare or depending on the state are now known as SKIVERS or

SCROUNGERS, as opposed to STRIVERS.This is an interesting case of how

ideology seeps into our very language. Demonization. Emotive, reductive words.

But what about the parasite. How could that be re-appropriated. How could I be proud,

ennobled by being a parasite? What is my relationship as artist to the job-seeker, to

the unemployed, to the needy? I also am in need. And my profession has been

discredited. It's resources have been cut away. It has been deemed less valuable. Am

I less valuable as a result. Is the language (so infected by ideology) going to

re-position ME as a SCROUNGER or a SKIVER. No thank you. I would rather be A

PARASITE. PARASITE I can deal with. PARASITE I can subvert…

The question of reciprocity is a good one. The relationship of a parasite is not mutually

beneficial (on the surface). The parasite gets what it needs from its host. The host,

often bigger, stronger, can support it/him/her. This is the eco-system: Some things

support others. There does not have to be some sort of beautiful symbiotic relationship

here. (QUESTION MARK) If I am a parasite I survive, I exist and I contribute to the

diversity of the ecosystem, of life on this planet, in the way that only I can. There-in lies

the exchange.

And I am conscious of it. I know I am a parasite. I start where I find myself.

Serving and being served. Hosting and being hosted. Sucking the life-blood. Taking

the money. Giving back. Not giving back. Surviving. Flourishing. The arts. The artist.

Self-worth. Getting a seat at the table. These terms are some of the terms of the

discussion.

THOUGHTS BY MANY PEOPLE (OFTEN CONTRADICTORY)

(EXPECT NO RESOLUTION, NO PERFECT EXCHANGE, WHAT DID YOU TAKE

FROM THIS DISCUSSION. WHAT FED YOU?)

- There is no equal footed dialogue with the host (Tory Party) at this time

- How do we adapt to the situation if we are parasites? Do parasites adapt?

- Visibility and recognition. As parasites, are we unseen? Isn't that bad. We should be

loud and proud. We should change the relationship.

- Maybe the artist enjoys the lack of recognition.

- Agitative art weakens the host (i.e. government?)

- If the government is funding your critique of it, it must be confident that it is in control

and can contain your criticism?

- So are certain funded arts/theatre institutions as radical as they think they are? Are

they just serving the host (CRUCIAL AND DISGUSTING INVERSION OF

HOST/PARASITE RELATIONSHIP lolz)

- What is the (real or imagined) relationship between the health of the arts and the

health of the government. And how does that reflect on the health of the country. And

what is health? And what is survival?

- Survival, says somebody, is success.

- Other argue. They want to flourish, not only survive.

ALL YOU NEED, says someone, IS A MICROPHONE AND A ROOM

- but I can't find a room? I need a room! I need shelter, water, food, I am a parasite

- GRASSROOTS STAND-UP: once upon a time comedy, stand-up was political.

Rather than joke about the disabled hahahaha they would attack the status-quo,

ridicule the government hahahaha Think about those stand-ups of the 80s. google

them why don't you. then watch fucking Michael McIntyre

- ARTISTS someone angry says, ARE BEING CALLED PARASITES by a government

that doesn't recognize their cultural contribution (note by me:I am not sure the

government has ever called artists parasites exactly, but we are trying to put words to

a feeling we have, a feeling we are seemingly tapping into because people at this

point are getting lively)

- STUDENTS are they still parasites now they pay £9000? Do they even give a shit

now that if they had been born a decade before they wouldnt be so saddled with the

crippling DEBT

- Do I feel a connection with students now, as a parasite, ahem, i mean artist

OR ARE WE ALL JUST CUSTOMERS, CONSUMERS

ahhh, yes, i don't know

]

]

Some. Artists. Create. Wealth. (whisper)

What are artists doing that is so terrible? Why can't you give to us? Why wouldn't you?

THE POLITICIANS ARE LYING TO YOU. WE ARE ENORMOUSLY WEALTHY.

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN SO MUCH WEALTH BEFORE. IT IS JUST A MATTER

OF DISTRIBUTION. We are suffering. Why?

- Interesting question of creating wealth vs creating value.

- Celebrate the artist as parasite

- Celebrate the parasite

- Oh, holy scarab beetle

Is there a more radical role we can be playing as artists?

PARA - SITE

Outside. Outside the argument. I watch. I see. I am outside.

NO. I am a parasite. I am beside. I am part of this. We are one and the same, you and

me, my host, my parasite. I am not outside. I am part of the problem. We are complicit

in what we are critiquing.

- Writing an arts council application. The ultimate parasitic activity? Or are you just

writing what they want to hear, giving them what they want, serving them?

SURVIVAL

**********

More than just being able to make do, just being able to live, to function.

- How do you create the conditions to do what you want to do? To survive and to …

whisper it… flourish… scream it FLOURISH

- Are you happy affecting small scale change?

- We find it very difficult to ask for help even if we are entitled to it. see… JSA. Housing

benefit. Ways to survive.

- THE PARASITE vs THE BIRD IN THE POND PICKING THE DIRT OUT OF THE

CROCODILE'S TEETH

art is a neccessary part of society

OStermeier's anger that Berlin funded so little… the art the theatre is why so many

people are flooding into that city. pitiful percentage amount of the city's spending 0.5%

We have to create a counter argument to being put in the position of parasites, says a

parasite who refuses to be called a parasite

The army, says one of us, would never call themselves parasitic (but defense has

been cut)

The army, says this same, is there to protect the resources (WOAH) that we need.

Wait. … Isn't that like totally parasitic. No paristoid. Destroy the host. Take the oil. Ok I

am not sure about that point but…

Are the artists / parasites there to disrupt / to question. YES! Yes?

Does this mean we are forced in to a political response. ???

Is that why we make art|?

IS THAT WHY WE MAKE ART

COME ON, PARASITES!!!

We (some of us) feel that we are only tolerated, we cannot thrive, we cannot flourish

We (some of us) actually feel we are part of the host

- Arts council funding is parasitic, “for poor people who want to win millions” … er…

and "We do not ask rich people to contribute to the arts with their tax

This creates polarization…

We are being taught (ideologically?) suggests one wilde parasite, the cost of

everything and the value of nothing.

We are internalizing the economic arguments and their perjorative definitions of profit /

loss.

How do we get the audience on our side?

Oh, the perceived elitism of high art.

The problem about the public conversation about culture is that people do not see the

thing that will be destroyed, they see only people who they feel to be begging for

money, and FOR WHAAT?

?!&£^&£^£(

THE HOLY SCARAB BEETLE BRINGS ENLIGHTENMENT

(See the worship of the scarab by Egyptians)

I am exhausted with this report.

Ok

So to sum up. Phil said

Re-appropriating the word ‘parasite’ either models the way we are now forced to

identify ourselves

Or crystallises what we need to change about it - ie. dominating definition of worth as

exchange value…

hmmm

and then this morning I thought about the strong reactions provoked by the word

parasite. My continuing need to go back to it, to try again to re-appropriate it. To find

the good.

Parasite does not serve. he does not clean the host's teeth like the bird does the

crocodile. This is not parasite. But he does contribute to the ecosystem. And maybe by

his/her existence s/he challenges the ecosystem. She changes it. If she can survive

then she can join with others. Maybe we can all evolve into locusts. Can we talk about

the idea of a plague? About disaster? About how all these things might be beneficial. I

don't know anymore. It's over to you. We are not solo even if that seems to be the

image a parasite conjures. We are also a swarm. We are also a holy scarab beetle.

We are rolling our shit, which resembles the sun, which is the sun, which we have

always done. We are bringing the day and bringing the night. We are holy holy holy

holy holy holy holy holy holy holy scarab beetle and we do survive and we will, and

once we do, now that we do, now what?

Tags:

Diversity, riot, skiver, deserving poor, language of division, conservatives, host,

Parasite, scrounger, vocabulary, Value, tory, master, internal, army, holy, the artist,

economic, scarab beetle, scarab, parasites, elitism, revolution, undeserving poor,

worth, ecology, exchange, Exchange, Arts council, Artists, value, striver, diversity, arts

council, Arts Council, artists, pauper, Elitism, government