It's easy to feel frustrated & neglected by modern day politics. A cabinet of only 3 women- thanks Maria (actually I'm not sure if that's sarcasm or not), ridiculous & irresponsible policies, imbeciles like Gove shaping the future of education & an overwhelming majority of privilege that most of us will never recognise. Many people have begun to give up hope, but my ideology has been reinvigorated from an unexpected source.
I've never been a fan of tv talent shows. For many who have spent time, money & immense heart ache training in the arts, it's disappointing to see new 'names' catapulted to success (albeit often temporarily) to tread the boards at West End theatres due to their profile. I can't help but feel that tv talent shows dumb down our expectations of what creativity is, negate the colossal work involved in honing these skills and most importantly create a culture of fame chasers. I don't necessarily blame the participants as it seems there is a massive appetite from the general public for this type of entertainment and if you cant beat them, join them! I recently had a friend in the spotlight of one of these shows & I very much hope they do not see this as an attack on their choice, their talent is not in question, just the way we digest it.
I've been pathetically proud of my ability to not follow the X Factors, Voicers or talented Britains over the recent years, but in this last week I couldn't help but notice Jermain Jackman. Firstly, he has worked with some of my friends so his presence on my social media feed was higher than normally expected in these things, and secondly after his win I read an interview with him in The Guardian. Surely any self respecting middle class leftie should take note? I did!
What's refreshing about this 19 year old is that he genuinely seems genuine! Granted I didn't follow the show but from what I've since read he didn't sell his talent on a painfully sad story, his niche was his politics. Yes, some of his musings are naive and slightly aggravating (don't get me started on free schools), but here is a young man unafraid to talk social inequality & inspirational politics in an engaging and relatable way; his voice is a very exciting thing. I always idealised the days of burning bras, people attending CND rallies & generally embracing the right to challenge the status quo. Drama school was not quite the socialist, creative arts hub I had hoped for and at best politically despondent, but it really feels like the tide is changing. Whatever your thoughts on facebook, people are now unashamedly declaring their feminist ideals, sharing controversial or challenging images, setting up groups to challenge racial inequality & in general talking more stridently about what they believe in.
We are all part of the same fight and Jackmans vigour I hope will be something that (those of us who care) will celebrate & not undermine because of his route to the public eye. None of us are angels & I've only just weaned myself off a hideous attraction to the Kardashians, but maybe a refusal to accept what we have been given in this society & a belief that our small efforts can induce change is the beginning of something special. Maybe politics can be popular again.
Perhaps we will be the generation that is talked about next century, that didn't let the world die, stopped the government imploding & started a revolution! Could Jermain Jackman make politics cool? I really hope so...
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