Posted on 11/10/2004 10:26:13 AM PST by nickcarraway
Second of two parts.
What is the artist's role in society? Artists have been debating the question throughout history.
The former U.S. poet laureate said he thought about the election results all day -- "when I could think."
"The question of how the rest of us should behave seems pressing," he said. "Erosion of civil liberties? The courts? Further and deeper predations on the environment? It's hard to see how the Endangered Species Act will survive, except perhaps in name. An interesting indicator of the intentions of that Bush clique will be to see whether they punish Republican dissenters like Richard Lugar. If they go after moderate Republicans first, watch out.".
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
"No NEA for you...!"
Perhaps they'll go into their "dark period".
 Angry, resigned and motivated -- artists reflect on next four years "I'm numb. ... I've been drumming all day long. ... It's my sword." Mickey Hart (right), musician  |
The NEA really should give out grants of shampoo.
Pity party, pity party.
What a clueless waste of space bunch! they should all just go to Canada or maybe Ireland with Redford - yeh tat's the ticket!
The really good news is this: These numb tacos are in the same area - San Francisco.
Paul Kantner, once of "The Jefferson Airplane," described old SF this way: "It's 49 square miles surrounded by reality."
Now, who could aruge with that?
Viva Bush!
Uh, maybe something to do with art?
I thought an artist created something, i.e., paintings, sculpture, music, etc. for the love of his/her art and not for money. Guess I was wrong!
"The Bush team's Homeland Security Act has already affected our independent counterculture publishing," he said. "We air-mailed a book to a Canadian customer 10 days ago and it still hasn't cleared customs! Canadian customs is now totally jammed -- funny, this has received no news coverage. In the pre-Bush era, this book would have arrived at its destination in four days.
Last I heard from friends in Buffalo,,,The canadian customs has been on srike for a number of weeks now ....1000's of trucks parked all over buffalo that can't get into canada their checking all cargo,,,i'm sure it's real good for their economy!!!!!!!!
The artist role is to entertain, like modern day court jesters. It is impossible to take these self-centered people anywhere near as seriously as they take themselves. And they wonder why taxpayers remain opposed to public funding for the arts...
Telling everyone how necessary they are so they can collect government grants.
Exactly--- Art is for yourself, something you almost have to do. Money isn't the reason (though it is nice).
That is why I don't like the NEA, it makes art something that it isn't.
Art is a function, i.e., a thing, the purpose of which is to offer its characteristics for observation.
If we agree on a set of criteria, we can talk about whether sush a thing is good art or bad art.
The role of an artist is to make art.
If you're making a political statement, you're an editorialist, not an artist. If you're worrying about your "role", you need to find something to do that suits you better.
The Artist's role in society is to avoid work at all costs while trying to convince the hoi poloi that our not comprehending his BS makes him brilliant.
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