Timothee Chalamet makes comments surrounding opera and ballet that spark controversy
Within the past week actors Timothee Chalamet and Matthew McConaughey came together for a town hall conversation at the University of Texas at Austin, hosted by CNN and Variety. During this interview the actors discussed their different performances, careers and the implication of AI in their art. During this process, Chalamet said that he doesn’t want to be working in professions like the ballet or opera, where artists are struggling to “keep this thing alive, even though no one really cares about it.”
Many people are responding to this comment negatively, both those who are in ballet and opera and those outside of it. Many professional artists as well as high profile theaters, like the Metropolitan Ballet and the Boston Baller, have stood in defense of these artforms. There have also been other mainstream stars who have something to say as well. Overall, this has sparked some pretty intense conversation on the internet.
Opera and Ballet are some of the oldest performing artforms that have had great influence on movies and actors
Many users online have been pointing out that opera and ballet have been around for over 500 years. The first recorded performance of ballet and opera occurred around the same time, the mid to late 1500s. Many users on Instagram have told their story of how these artforms have influenced their work. Paris Paloma, a musical artists, posted a video with the caption “I would not be the artist I am today without the influence of theatre, opera and ballet. I am so grateful to these high art forms for their constant inspiration.”
Another user on Instagram, @madsly0, posted a video of all the different “A-list” actors that got their start in ballet or opera that went on to movie making. These people include Tom Holland, Christopher Walken, Patrick Swayze, Emmy Rossum, as well as dozens others.
People are pointing out Chalamet’s hypocrisy
A lot of Instagram users are also talking about the fact that Chalamet has done some work in live performance, specifically theater. In 2011 he was in a production of The Talls and in 2016 he was in Prodigal Son. Additionally, in multiple interviews he talks about how his mother, sister and grandmother all danced in the New York City Ballet. He has spoken about how big of an impact that environment had on him growing up.
People are commenting on how this type of thinking and behavior must be very disappointing for the women in his life to see.
People say he’s wrong
After this comment, many people have posted 360 shots of the theaters being full, accompanied with interviews of people speaking to how important this artwork is.
The LA Opera in response to Chalamet’s comments, have said “We’d offer you complimentary tickets to Akhaten, but it’s selling out. There are a few seats left to purchase if you hurry.” Some people are speaking to the inaccessibility of these “high arts” as a hindrance to its growth, but even that is not necessarily true. A user on Instagram by the name of @interstellar_isabellar shows that in person attendance may be dropping, but the world’s affinity with it is not. She says that a lot of the engagement has been online.
Conclusion
In conclusion, people on social media are not echoing Chalamet’s opinions. Many people, both from that background and not, are coming to these artform’s defense. People are talking about the personal and professional impact ballet and opera have on performers all over the world, all across decades. In addition, lots of users on Instagram are highlighting the fact that these art forms are not dying, the way people consume them is just changing due to the option to attend these things virtually.