It's a Long Way to Democracy in Culture...

This Saturday and Sunday, Gilberto Gil will be officially opening a new concert arena in Rio de Janeiro by performing two shows, which is a monumental draw in and of itself. Not only this, however, he will have different-and-extremely-popular opening acts the two nights, Sandy and Junior (an extremely crappy pop duo for 12 year olds with feelings) on Saturday night, and Maria Rita (a very good modern singer, daughter of Elis Regina) Sunday night.

The cost of going to these shows?

Well, the cheap seats (which are sold out) are only 80 reais, or roughly 37 dollars BEFORE fees. The expensive seats end up at 120 reais, or 56 dollars, again, BEFORE fees.

Now, music shows have never been fully democratic, but this is unfortunately rather disappointing. Gil, most famous for being one of the founders of Tropicalismo (Tropicalia) and being one of Brazil's most important (if not the most important) musicians of the latter half of the 20th century, is currently also the Minister of Education and Culture under the Lula administration. Part of his mission under Lula has been to attempt to democratize culture and education in Brazil, a mission that fits with his broader lyrical efforts to decry injustice over the years (on albums such as the amazing Refazenda).

Yet tickets to his show are basically 37-57 dollars BEFORE fees.

This isn't exactly a democratic vision of culture. Most Brazilians, not only in rural areas but in urban centers like Rio, can't begin to imagine to spend this much on one night of music. I'm not going to make it to the show, but I already can tell you what the crowd will look like - white as the pure driven snow. If it weren't for the Portuguese, this show probably wouldn't look any different than a Wilco show.

Now, I know it's probably not his fault. I couldn't help but notice, in inquiring about tickets, that Ticketmaster, the scourge-of-scourges for live music, was behind the event (I'll never understand how the courts under Bush I could rule that an industry that held 90+% of the market wasn't a monopoly), and I'm sure that explains the fees that would result. And of course, the venue will make demands, and you have to hire security, and so on.

Yet Gil should know better. He should have used some of his influence to try to get the tickets cheaper. He certainly isn't hurting for money, and maybe could have lowered the prices or even played on the beach or somewhere for free, a la the Rolling Stones (though certainly there was plenty of money to be made on that night in January, too).

Instead, the show will be too much for most people to attend, and we just get another insight into the ways in which the market and the gap in distribution in wealth in Brazil leave most of the people unable to enjoy the niceties of life.

Democratic, indeed.