Ghosting an Innovator: How 2024 Has Exposed the Dark Underbelly of French Acadian Cultural Gatekeepers
Publicly funded to promote diversity of French Acadian culture, yet stifle innovation and diversity through blatant exclusionary practices.
"Behind Closed Doors: The Racist fed Ghosting and Silencing of Acadian Artist Theriault by a Cultural Clique."
2024: A Banner Year for Acadian Cultural Oligarchs
2024 has been a year that peeled back the layers of secrecy within the French Acadian cultural industry. Led by a tight-knit executive committee of oligarchs, this exclusive group of self-appointed gatekeepers has ruled with an iron fist over the cultural narratives presented to the Acadian public. Despite being publicly funded and tasked with promoting the full diversity of French Acadian culture, these figures have managed to stifle dissent, innovation, and diversity through blatant homophobia, racism, and exclusionary practices.
Claude Theriault
Dull
At the heart of this year's drama stands contemporary artist Claude Edwin Theriault, arguably one of his generation's most innovative French Acadian artists. While Theriault has been breaking new ground with digital art and cultural expression, his efforts have been systematically undermined by those who claim to champion Acadian heritage. Behind the polished presentations of inclusivity and community celebration lies a darker reality—a network of straight, Roman Catholic, white elites who cling to outdated values and stifle anyone who doesn’t fit their mould.
The New Face of "Ghosting as the New Racism"
What is most disturbing about the treatment of Theriault is the insidiousness of the methods used to silence him. In 2024, ghosting—a term often used in personal relationships—has taken on a new, chilling form in the cultural realm. Theriault has faced "ghosting racism," a tactic whereby the French Acadian cultural elite has deliberately erased and ignored his work, refusing to acknowledge his contributions to the wider Acadian narrative.
This goes beyond simple exclusion. They have systematically erased his contributions from public forums, media outlets, and cultural discussions by pretending that Theriault's work doesn't exist. Despite his global recognition as a trailblazing artist who blends digital and traditional mediums, Theriault's innovative projects are kept hidden from the Acadian public, buried under a wall of silence perpetuated by these cultural gatekeepers. It is the ultimate form of cultural ghosting: if you aren’t acknowledged, you might as well not exist.
This form of racism is particularly harmful because it denies opportunities for future generations of Acadians to witness and be inspired by creative diversity within their own culture. The message sent is clear—if you don't fit within the narrow, conservative confines of what these cultural oligarchs define as “acceptable,” you will be erased from Franco's press.
Silencing Through Cease and Desist
In a shocking turn of events, 2024 saw the French Acadian cultural elite escalate their harassment of Theriault. Not content with simply ghosting him, they resorted to more direct and aggressive tactics, hiring not one but two lawyers to issue cease-and-desist letters aimed at preventing him from sharing his work and telling his story.
These legal threats serve a dual purpose: they drain the financial resources of independent artists like Theriault and create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. By leveraging government funds to finance their legal assault, these cultural elites have exposed their true priorities. Rather than fostering an environment of open artistic expression, they are more concerned with maintaining their exclusive control over Acadian culture and history.
The fact that taxpayer money is being used to silence an Acadian artist raises serious ethical questions. Should public funds be used to prop up an insular group of cultural gatekeepers who refuse to embrace the full spectrum of Acadian identity? Why is there no public outrage or inquiry into the misuse of these resources? The Acadian public deserves to know how their money is being spent and why talented artists like Theriault are being harassed instead of celebrated.
Cultural Clique vs. Artistic Freedom
The cultural industry in Acadia has long been dominated by a small group of insiders who operate much like an exclusive clique. They quickly boast of their accolades and the supposedly inclusive nature of their projects. However, behind the public façade, they practice a form of cultural control that leaves little room for artistic innovation or diverse voices.
Theriault’s work, which intersects with digital art, music, and Acadian history, offers a fresh perspective that challenges the status quo. His projects are deeply rooted in Acadian identity but speak to a broader, global narrative of cultural hybridity, technology, and artistic freedom. Instead of embracing this new wave of creativity, the cultural oligarchs have chosen to suppress it, fearing that it could undermine their carefully curated version of Acadian heritage.
This year has made it clear that the battle lines have been drawn between those who seek to preserve a stagnant, exclusionary version of Acadian culture and those, like Theriault, who are pushing the boundaries of what it means to be Acadian in the 21st century.
A Closing Reflection: The Truth Must Be Told
2024 may be remembered as the year the French Acadian cultural elite went too far in their attempts to silence dissent. Their use of legal intimidation and public funds to harass Theriault is a blatant misuse of power that raises serious questions about their role as stewards of Acadian heritage.
The Acadian public deserves to know that their cultural leaders are actively suppressing innovative voices to maintain an outdated, homogenous narrative. Theriault’s work speaks to the future of Acadian identity, one that is inclusive, diverse, and unafraid of challenging traditional norms. Yet, the cultural elite remain stuck in the past, clinging to their power and using every tool at their disposal to prevent the public from seeing the full spectrum of Acadian creativity.
As the dust settles from this year's controversies, it is clear that the fight for artistic freedom in Acadia is far from over. Theriault may be facing unprecedented opposition, but his work resonates with those who understand that art must evolve and reflect the complexities of contemporary life. The Acadian people, and indeed all those who value artistic expression, should stand behind Theriault and demand greater transparency and accountability from those who claim to represent their culture.
