Alexis Hyde comments on the quick reversal of Michael Govan regarding LACMA’s film program:

It seems like just yesterday when everyone was in a tizzy about the announced closing of the film program and I was chastising Martin Scorsese for his reaction.  Now this week they are going to have a nice little conversation about how important the role of film in our museums and in our LIVES.  Time flies when you blog in your spare time, doesn’t it?  Anywho, I am happy that Scorsese is actually going to show his face at LACMA to encourage museum-goers (and potentially a demographic of people that might not visit LACMA for any other reason than to see the famed director) to learn more about film and hopefully participate in the future of the never closed Film Program*.  Also, in lieu of money troubles, I am happy they are charging for it.

I am still a little confused/resentful about the backlash to the announcement of the closing of the Film Program.  Govan said they needed to reevaluate things so they would be able to reopen it and have a more successful program. This seemed legitimate to me, especially in this economy that has had such an impact on museum’s endowments, and also what I can assume the major donor’s pocketbooks.  In times of financial strain, one has to be more creative in spending and also has to cut the fat.  Again, not that I am implying that the Film Program is fat, but if it is running inefficiently and losing money rather than breaking even, or making some, then maybe the program did need to be reevaluated.  Some people said that Govan isn’t a film curator, he’s not. He’s the Director of an encyclopedic museum that has so many programs it hurts my head just trying to name them all.  I know I am ranting a little, but it just makes me sad that after what I am sure was a long and much discussed decision to put the film program on hold while things could be reassessed, LACMA fell victim to what seems to me as peer pressure and bullying.

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