Obama's NEA: Pushing Artists to be Political

 A few weeks ago at Reason.com, Patrick Courrielche wrote about the art community's seemingly uncritical embrace of Barack Obama. Since that piece appeared, he was invited to participate in a National Endowment of the Arts telecon in which that august body plainly suggested that artists get with the "recovery" program:

Backed by the full weight of President Barack Obama's call to service and the institutional weight of the NEA, the conference call was billed as an opportunity for those in the art community to inspire service in four key categories, and at the top of the list were "health care" and "energy and environment." The service was to be attached to the President's United We Serve campaign, a nationwide federal initiative to make service a way of life for all Americans. 

It sounded, how should I phrase it…unusual, that the NEA would invite the art community to a meeting to discuss issues currently under vehement national debate. I decided to call in, and what I heard concerned me.

Courrielche reviews the historical mission of the NEA and the way the agency has worked over the years and asks, "Do you think it is the place of the NEA to encourage the art community to address issues currently under legislative consideration?"

Whole thing here. It's really pretty disturbing (maybe not surprising, but still disturbing) and definitely worth reading.

Via Big Hollywood.

Comments

[24AheadDotCom]

Art should serve the state.

P.S. If I had more time, I could solve everything. In this case, I'd try to hold non-BHO admin public officials accountable and that might include FOIA requests. Too bad Reason and "BigHollywood" don't go in for that activism/reporting thing but just opine.

[Warty]

Shut the fuck up, Lonewacko.

[hmm]

"Do you think it is the place of the NEA to encourage the art community to address issues currently under legislative consideration?"

Just another mouth on the government teet. The difference is now most of the bunnyhugging, tofu eating, naked paint throwing art community has someone that agrees with the. Not surprised. It's the same as GE seeking rents and pushing it's people to support the administration.

[Aresen]

About that picture.

It kinda looks like Obama is committing an "unnatural act" with that horse.

NTTAWWT.

[Artifex]

Ahhh, this is not a serious article. You are just using this as an excuse to fight American obesity by posting that image yet again. Nice public service.

[Paul]

Why is it that progressives have no radar for the creepy factor when it comes to state sponsored culture?

[robc]

Aresen,

You might want to check again, that isnt a horse.

[Pro Libertate]

Uh, yeah. As wrongheaded as the NEA is, I think overtly funding art to advance the ruling party's political agenda might be, um, wrongheadeder.

[Pro Libertate]

Watch it, Paul, the Godwin police are out. I got caught when I inadvertently called Hitler the "Lion of the Reichstag." Well, maybe not that inadvertently.

You think Mike gets a commission every time someone calls out a fulfillment of his law? Frankly, I think he should stop practicing law and just go around calling people out: "You just me'd this thread, dude."

[Aresen]

robc

Didn't want to look at it that closely. From the angle, I assumed it was supposed to be a spear that he was carrying.

Besides, it's fairly certain that he isn't a virgin, so why should he be riding a unicorn?

[robc]

Pro Lib,

I think it might even be wrongheadedest.

And Im enjoying Juggler so far. Its filling the gaps around Neutron Star nicely. It has the feel of a series of short stories, which makes it Niven at his best.

[robc]

Besides, it's fairly certain that he isn't a virgin, so why should he be riding a unicorn?

That was my first thought last year when that image first appeared. Has anyone done a paternity test on his kids?

[robc]

Also, I think "I dont want to lose my ride" may be the magical era equivalent of "Ive got a headache". The unicorns dont care, but its important to the lasses to keep the story out there.

[Rhywun]

"a nationwide federal initiative to make service a way of life for all Americans"

Shut the fuck up, Mr. President.

[Hugh Akston]

From the angle, I assumed it was supposed to be a spear that he was carrying.

RAAAAAAAAAACIST!!!!!!

[Hugh Akston]

Art should serve the state.

Ok, either LoneWhacko is fucking with us or someone is doing a bad impersonation. Notice how everything is properly spaced and capitalized? I smell a rat.

[Hugh Akston]

Last post I promise.

Has anyone done a paternity test on his kids?

They're waiting for the birth certificates to turn up. They might have gotten 'lost' in the move.

[Hey I Just Got Unbanhammered!]

Sweet!

[Paul]

Pro L: Duly noted.

But Obama made me do it. There is a word for state-sponsored art, or as you astutely put it, 'art which serves the ruling party agenda', and ironically that word starts with the first three letters of your name.

[Hazel Meade]

If you ask me, this is that fastest and easiest way for Oabama to lose the support of artists. Which is saying a lot, since artists tend to be progressive wankers, most of them.

Anyone, nothing will creep them out and alienate them more than the government telling them what their art should be about.

[Hazel Meade]

Oabama/Obama, anyone/anyway, etc.

[Joe M]

You don't think they'll be honored to do the Great Leader's bidding?

[Paul]

Oabama/Obama, anyone/anyway, etc.

At least you didn't call anyone a moran.

[Hazel Meade]

You don't think they'll be honored to do the Great Leader's bidding?

Highly unlikely. In most socialist/communist states, the artists were among the regimes biggest critics. Artists don't like being told what to do, period.

[hmm]

Highly unlikely. In most socialist/communist states, the artists were among the regimes biggest critics. Artists don't like being told what to do, period.

I've never looked closely at this, but I'd bet there is a curve starting with high support moving to resistance as such governments become more draconian.

[Paul]

I've never looked closely at this, but I'd bet there is a curve starting with high support moving to resistance as such governments become more draconian.

See: Iranian revolution.

[Mike Laursen]

Ok, either LoneWhacko is fucking with us or someone is doing a bad impersonation. Notice how everything is properly spaced and capitalized? I smell a rat.

There have been subtle signs lately that he might be on new meds that are working a little better.

[LarryA]

I wonder if the guy who did the Joker poster showed up?

Anyone, nothing will creep them out and alienate them more than the government telling them what their art should be about.

It's not hard to lead a horse to water if he's already drunk.

[Paul]

I wonder if the guy who did the Joker poster showed up?

No, he's a purveyor of degenerate art.

[Aresen]

Paul | August 26, 2009, 7:50pm | #

I wonder if the guy who did the Joker poster showed up?

No, he's a purveyor of degenerate art.

OH NO! They took my job!

[Hazel Meade]

You guys aren't getting it. Almost every "artist" or "aspiring artist" I know is really a self-absorbed egoist. Telling them their art should be about something other than their personal demons would be like ... well, like telling Obama he's not really the president of the US. IOW, you're likely to be met with a black stare of incomprehension followed by hostility.

[PantsFan]

OH NO! They took my job!

It's pronounced "jaerb"

[B]

Chalk this up as item #5832047 that would make "progressives" mad as hell if it were done under the Bush administration but now that Obama is "president" (it that is what you can call his serial incompetence) they will either not utter a single fucking word of protest or will act like it is totally awesome.

[B]

"Highly unlikely. In most socialist/communist states, the artists were among the regimes biggest critics. Artists don't like being told what to do, period."

As evidenced by the high volume of art being produced now that is highly critical of the Obama administration. Oh, wait....

[B]

"If you ask me, this is that fastest and easiest way for Oabama to lose the support of artists.'

Yeah, because artists just hate being given money to glorify a man that most of them already think is a Messiahesque figure.

[Typical Artist]

FTA: " ... bare with us as we learn the language so that we can speak to each other safely ..."

"Bare with us." Yep, sounds like my crowd.

[Pete Guither]

Anybody who thinks that artists are going to churn out political art lockstep with a particular agenda doesn't know any artists.

Of course art should be political, but government funded art is a whole lot different than government commissioned art. Any political art funded by the government is more likely to be embarrassing to the government than to push its agenda, regardless of who is in power.

Even Shakespeare was funded by the crown, yet spent much of his plays ridiculing the government.

If artists were interested in being bribed to produce art with a specific agenda, they'd get lucrative jobs in advertising, rather than going through tons of hoops for the hope of a meager pittance of a government grant to go along with the income they get serving you Fajitas and Margueritas on Friday night.

[skr]

If artists were interested in being bribed to produce art with a specific agenda, they'd get lucrative jobs in advertising, rather than going through tons of hoops for the hope of a meager pittance of a government grant

Except that advertising involves evil corporations and profit. Most of the artists I know are already true believers, so they won't really see it as being bribed. Instead I think they will see it as finally getting to make the art they wanted to all along if only there were an enlightened government. Also, most of the artists I know also have taken classes on how to get a government grant, and are well practiced.

*disclaimer* I went to an art school in Los Angeles.

[TallDave]

I'm still waiting for these "shocking" and "courageous" artists to bring us Piss Mohammed.

I guess no one wants to star in the rebuttal jihadist performance art piece.

[Wicks Cherrycoke]

At the risk of being accused of comparing Obama to Hitler, but didn't have an entire ministry devoted to having art serve the interests of the party in power?

[hmm]

Anybody who thinks that artists are going to churn out political art lockstep with a particular agenda doesn't know any artists.

I'm not seeing a whole lot of out of stepping as of late. With the exception of satirists and a few cartoonists it looks like he has full support and no criticism. Unless I'm missing something.

To be honest I really could care less what the art community does. Aside from investment value most of it doesn't appeal to me.

[Pro Libertate]

robc,

Just finished Juggler. Not bad. I recognized a couple of repurposed short stories within the novel, so you're not far from right. I thought a couple of the characters read differently from the earlier stories--Nessus in particular.

[Paul]

Of course art should be political, but government funded art is a whole lot different than government commissioned art.

How do you get the commission? I don't see any cheques in my mailbox.

[Paul]

I'm still waiting for these "shocking" and "courageous" artists to bring us Piss Mohammed.

The government is withholding commissions on that.

[Brandybuck]

Artists don't like being told what to do, period.

Give them an ultraprogressive like Obama, and a gub'ment stipend, and they'll be producing what they're told almost without asking.

[Pete Guither]

"I'm still waiting for these "shocking" and "courageous" artists to bring us Piss Mohammed."

What would be the point? Piss Christ made a lot of artistic sense. In Christianity, Christ died on a cross to take upon Himself all of mankind's ugly sins, much as urine cleanses the body of its poisons. And the crucifix itself, which has been devalued into something you hand from your rear view mirror no longer conveyed the horror of that sacrifice.

It amazes me the people who are uninterested in interacting with art. That piece, that so many consider outrageous, could easily be considered one of the most profound contemporary religious works of art.

Piss Mohammed would be a meaningless poker-dog painting commissioned by some right wing talk show host.

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

Piss Mohammed would be a meaningless poker-dog painting commissioned by some right wing talk show host.

Now, Fuck Mohammed, on the other hand.....

Lulu! bring me my pallette and some black velvet!

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

Or perhaps an alternative bodily substance.

MUHAMMED WITH PEANUTS...I can see it now.

[TallDave]

Pete,

I would also settle for "Allah With Elephant Dung."

[Pete Guither]

I would also settle for "Allah With Elephant Dung."

Now that has some promise.

[Hazel Meade]

People have done "Piss Mohammed". They were the Danish Cartoons. At least the Mohammed with the exploding turban is about as offensive to Muslims as Piss Christ, I'm sure.

Secondly there isn't a lot of art critical of Obama because there isn't a lot of art about Obama at all. Even among political art, not a lot of it is focused on specific politicians.

There's no question that most of the arts community is left leaning, but the Obamanoids aren't the same slice of society. The Obama worshippers are mainstream partisan liberal Democrats. The arts community is largely made up of anarchists, progressives, greens, and verious other striped of insane wacked out radical. IMO, the general egotism of the arts community leads most of them to want to invent their own personal political philosophy to compete to out-radical eachother. Not many of these people are capable of worshipping anyone except themselves.

[$]

Not many of these people are capable of worshipping anyone except themselves.

And Obama support consists almost entirely of a kind of vicarious self-worship, so they'll do what they're told.

[Art-P.O.G.]

I think Hazel's take is pretty accurate. Most artists are pretty self-absorbed, present company excluded ;).

[Groovus Maximus]

Self-absorbed? Much like Dear Leader, the DX of Narcissistic Personality Disorder could be applied to most serious artists.

I wonder what the ratio of NPD to brilliance (compelling art) is.

Excepting interpretive dance of course 🙂

[Art-P.O.G.]

Good point Groovus Maximus. And for anybody that thinks most 'serious' artists will simply tow the Obama admin lion, what happens, theoretically, when you put two narcissists in the same room?

[roy]

It's not a matter of getting artists to produce propaganda, it's a matter of getting those that already do popularized and published...and ignoring those you don't like. After all the NYT art critic has a lot to choose from, why not pick smtg that'll make the editor happy?

[cfr]

GATEKEEPERS

[robc]

Secondly there isn't a lot of art critical of Obama because there isn't a lot of art about Obama at all.

WTF?

In the last year, I have seen more Obama artwork than I have all other US Presidents combined in my lifetime. And Im not talking on the internet, Ive seen it in person. And I dont normally go to artsy type places.

Although, I did attend a benefit back in Feb, just after the inauguration at a gallery/winery and they apparently had an Obama theme going. So the numbers added up quick.

[Typical Artist]

In the last year, I have seen more Obama artwork than I have all other US Presidents combined in my lifetime.

Obama *craftwork*, perhaps.

And I get more done all day than most people do by 9am!

[John]

It will just destroy art. Other than a couple of Russian films made under Stalin, state sponsored propeganda has always been just that; state sponsored propeganda. I have enough faith in this country not to worry about this effort having much effect. But it does amount to a suicide pact that artists are signing with Obama.

[Fluffy]

This phone call broke the law.

When Karl Rove held conference calls demanding that the employees of government agencies find a way to focus their efforts on activities that would advance GOP political issues, he was breaking the law. The only reason he was not charged is because the law in this country doesn't apply to the powerful.

This is the Obama administration version of that. The artists aren't government employees, but somebody on that conference call was a government employee. This activity was completely illegal.

[Pro Libertate]

Piss Obama?

Or, perhaps, Piss Off, Obama?

[Enjoy Every Sandwich]

Yes, artists tend to have strong egos, so I'll buy the argument that they can't easily be pushed into doing Obama's bidding.

But couldn't they be flattered into doing so? Don't artists dream that their work will change the world? I would think that could be used to play them.

"...ohhh, your art is just sooooo powerful! I was so moved, and Michelle cried! Just think you could single-handedly give all Americans universal healthcare! You could end global warming! blahblahblah!"

[P Brooks]

the conference call was billed as an opportunity for those in the art community to inspire service in four key categories, and at the top of the list were "health care"

I think this is a splendid idea. I would like to see a WPA-style mural of a cluster of doctors fighting over the wallet of an injured, bloody crash victim.

[Fluffy]

OK, now I have RTFA, and these mofos know it's illegal, so this is not some honest newbie mistake.

The article quotes the end of the conference call:

"This is just the beginning. This is the first telephone call of a brand new conversation. We are just now learning how to really bring this community together to speak with the government. What that looks like legally??bare with us as we learn the language so that we can speak to each other safely?"

They are openly admitting this is illegal and are going to try to devise a "language" that evades the law.

[P Brooks]

That piece, that so many consider outrageous, could easily be considered one of the most profound contemporary religious works of art.

By you, possibly.

-----

In the last year, I have seen more Obama artwork than I have all other US Presidents combined in my lifetime.

Wait 'til they issue the thousand-dollar Federal Reserve Note with Obama on it.

[brotherben]

Enjoy every samich,
the "flattery" argument is a damn good one.

[brotherben]

P Brooks, they can't do him an money till he's dead. You know something we don't?

[John]

I don't know about this "artists won't participate" stuff. Look back at the WPA and other government art programs during the new deal.
"Work began immediately on the WPA's Federal Project Number One. Known as "Federal One," the project comprised five major divisions: the Federal Art Project, the Federal Music Project, the Federal Theatre Project, the Federal Writers Project and the Historical Records Survey. Each was headed by a national director. Just one year after the five national directors first met in Washington, some 40,000 WPA artists and other cultural workers were employed in projects throughout the United States.

Federal One was unique among all U.S. government efforts, before or since, in attempting to articulate and accomplish broad public cultural goals. The designers of the WPA rejected the idea of setting up a program of subsidy for existing arts organizations. Instead of providing direct federal grants to these institutions, WPA leaders sought to break new ground with federal cultural support. As Federal Theatre Project director Hallie Flanagan said of her division, "We all believed that theater was more than a private enterprise, that it was also a public interest which, properly fostered, might come to be a social and educative force." {4}"

Sounds rather like a propaganda program to me.

http://www.wwcd.org/policy/US/newdeal.html

[P Brooks]

I don't necessarily know something you don't, but it's only fitting that the person responsible for bringing jumbo-denomination bills into circulation should be immortalized for it.

[Annoyed]

I want to know who these people participating in this propaganda are so I can blacklist them out of my life. I will refuse to patronize their work as long as they place themselves under this propagandistic effort.

[R C Dean]

I don't know about this "artists won't participate" stuff.

They will if they are paid to.

They also will to support someone they approve of.

I would like to see a WPA-style mural of a cluster of doctors fighting over the wallet of an injured, bloody crash victim.

I was thinking more of a mural showing a windowless conference room, littered with empty snack wrappers and coffee cups, with a bunch of faceless bureaucrats high-fiving each other.

Isn't that the healthcare system of the future?

[Fluffy]

Also, the statement "artists won't participate" is irrelevant because the entire reason that the NEA is a cancer is because they can give ANYONE a check and the imprimatur of the state and MAKE that person an artist.

It's not like NEA artists are some kind of NFL Players' Union and if they all walk off the job we'll notice that the replacement players suck. Every "artist" in the US could commit suicide in protest tomorrow, and entirely new "replacements" brought in, with no discernible change in output. If "artists" don't want to laud Obama, Obama can throw them out and get new artists.

He can treat this like Bush treated Army commands and just fire people one at a time until someone agrees with him and tells him he's God. It's a big country: out of 300 million folks, there have to be some available who will be willing to cash these checks and paint interchangeable murals lauding the Great Leader.

[Pro Libertate]

Artists gotta eat, don't they?

[moosecat]

"This is just the beginning. This is the first telephone call of a brand new conversation. We are just now learning how to really bring this community together to speak with the government. What that looks like legally??bare with us as we learn the language so that we can speak to each other safely? " .. that is scary

Fluff, hit the nail on the head. Artist won't accept the money to do the state's bidding but "Artists" who don't give a damn about free expression will gladly take money to toe the party line. Shit, I'll do it if the price is right. I suck as an artist but I can put together some stupid Photoshop artwork supporting socialized medicine.

[Fatty Bolger]

This is the first telephone call of a brand new conversation.

There's that word again, "conversation." As Ann Althouse pointed out recently, it has somehow been turned into an Orwellian code word that means something quite different. It's practically a euphemism for diktat, or central plan.

http://althouse.blogspot.com/2009/08/are-we-having-conversation-yet.html

[Trouble]

Typical Artist:
Obama *craftwork*, perhaps.

Obama Kraftwerk? That I'd pay to hear.

John:
But it does amount to a suicide pact that artists are signing with Obama.

Yep.

BTW: I'm a bit new here. What is a 24aheaddotcom and does it do anything except (1) spout pseudosocratic gibberish and (2) congratulate itself for holding forth on 60-year-old bad ideas?

I checked out its site and it amounts to "write your congressman". Yeah, dude, that's worked out just peachy, hasn't it?

Thanks, and cheers -
T

[Hazel Meade]

Also, the statement "artists won't participate" is irrelevant because the entire reason that the NEA is a cancer is because they can give ANYONE a check and the imprimatur of the state and MAKE that person an artist.

True but that just means all the artwork will be really, fucking, bad. Anyway, thet'll alienate the arts community even more, cause they'll see a bunch of no-talent hacks getting funded just because they put out propagandistic messages.

[Thomass]

Hazel Meade | August 26, 2009, 7:10pm | #

"Highly unlikely. In most socialist/communist states, the artists were among the regimes biggest critics. Artists don't like being told what to do, period."

Large swaths of our intelligentsia tends to fancy themselves artists... they're not really... and they're ready and willing to go in the tank for leftist ideology.

Just like its cool to pass yourself off as an intellectual (without doing the heavy lifting of reading and thinking a lot)?. Alas it is quite similar to 'acting' like an artist?.

So, I'm not holding my breath for the backlash. If it comes at all it will be from resentments when the election glow wears off... Otherwise the people I'm talking about have no problems being given marching orders... they're collectivists...

[Thomass]

Hazel Meade | August 27, 2009, 12:34pm | #

"True but that just means all the artwork will be really, fucking, bad."

True, goes hand in hand with my point above.

[thomass]

P Brooks | August 27, 2009, 9:40am | #

"I think this is a splendid idea. I would like to see a WPA-style mural of a cluster of doctors fighting over the wallet of an injured, bloody crash victim."

Or a motley bunch of clerks sitting at their desks in a counter row titled 1984 DMV on one side. Have the same people in the same stances in a more modern office but at desks titled 2010 Public Employee Claims Adjusters.

Between the two say Our Glorious Future Awaits! Do some of those Moaist sunbursts / light rays that are back in style?

[James Ard]

Trouble, 24ahdc has been harassing the Reason staff for years, originally using the handle Lonewolf, I think. Whatever he writes, someone will ultimately say "STFU lonewacko". He thinks Reason should do more to expose the fraud Obama, which is where he has a point. Reason's had a kind of Donovan McNabb sportswriter approach to Obama, maybe for fear of being called racists. How right they were! He also chides the site for its open border ideals.

[iowahawk]

I believe the arts are critically important in our society. By "the arts" I of course mean those things produced by, or excreted by, artists of some sort.

For extra artisticness, these artists and the arts they make should be courageous and not afraid to address various important controversial issues, such as painting Hitler mustaches on George Bush and so forth.

[P Brooks]

painting Hitler mustaches on George Bush and so forth.

The very essence of added artistic value; however, photoshopping whiteface onto the beatific visage of the Ascended One...

[Art-P.O.G.]

I think the caption "L.H.O.O.Q." might've worked better. Or "This is not a pipe".

[Brian O]

painting Hitler mustaches on George Bush and so forth.

We shall not again see that magnitude of bravery in our lifetimes, I think.

[Ward Churchill]

There are good little Eichmanns and there are bad little Eichmanns. These are the good kind.

[No Name Guy]

Somebody needs to come up with the propaganda posters. Stalin redux.......

[Trouble]

James Ard

Thanks.

[Thomass]

Brian O | August 27, 2009, 3:29pm | #

"We shall not again see that magnitude of bravery in our lifetimes, I think."

Ah, you're bringing back a memory... back in 02... the first time I heard a sanctimonious lefty I was standing next to say someone was 'very brave' for saying some insane irrational thing about GWB (also standing next to me).... I didn't get it at the time... when I did I thought it would be contained to immature idiots like the two I was hanging out with? I guess I was half wrong and half right? I just didn't realize how many people that pass as adults? are immature idiots?. The last stand was that Booosh would not hand over power after the election?

[Carol]

(Seemed to have lost my first comment, sorry if this reconstruction is a second one)

I recommend action Now. When I first read the original article in Big Hollywood last night, I sent an email complaint to Obama's new head of NEA, Rocco Landesman ([e-mail] was the NEA address I could find). And I CC'd it to my Congressman and Senators.

If you can think of something better, go for it, but don't just sit here and chat. If we just talk among ourselves, we contribute to the problem, the erosion of "Free Minds, Free Markets".

[JoZ]

How can anyone be called a Racist when commenting on this piece of artwork ... unless you are neither black nor white .. since that is what the president is ... correct!!!

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