We’re a nation of dilettantes

Abstract

It is the same old story every year. A substantial proportion of the population gets all hyped up about the latest piece of mediocrity that is sent to represent the country in the Eurovision, only for Malta to perform dismally once again. The humiliated performers come back to a hero’s welcome and those who allow such a disgraceful lowering of standards to happen on an annual basis are incentivised further to perpetuate the cycle of failure. Why is it that we seem to struggle to learn from our mistakes? Why is it that we keep peddling our cheap wares while fully convinced of their superior quality? As a nation, our relationship with mediocrity has a long history. Our insularity has long made us believe we are the world’s omphalos.