How often do you and your husband attend an arts event? You know what I mean; an art show, a play, a musical evening or a poetry reading? From what I see around me I’m guessing it would not be all that often.
Last week we went to a play Romeo and Juliet and then on Saturday night Mick and I went to a musical gig with the Janet Seidel Trio. Janet is a jazz singer and we both thoroughly enjoyed the evening. The music was fabulous. Other times Mick and I have gone to poetry readings. He’s not greatly into poetry but he knows I am, so he’s happy to come along occasionally. But live theatre and musicals he really likes, or calling in at an art gallery as we did recently on one of our days out together.
Yet when I look at the people at most of these events they are predominately women out with their women friends. In fact it seems to be the common perception. Someone said to me recently about a movie.’ You should go and see it with…’ She named a woman friend. Why I’m thinking. If I wanted to see it, Mick and I would go together.
Does this assumption that husbands aren’t interested in the arts stem from women? Does that mean they didn’t even bother to ask their husband if they’d be interested in going to a certain show or event? Or does it stem from men who have shown no propensity for the arts in the past and so it’s just taken as a given that they wouldn’t like it.
Mick had always been into music but he had not been into live theatre and going to plays till he met me. But he was willing to give it to go. He went and discovered he liked live theatre.
Join me for more about the arts and marriage tomorrow.
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