Posted on 02/08/2009 5:34:24 AM PST by MartinaMisc
THERE IS nothing new under the sun, says the Good Book, and the plea for a Cabinet-level secretary of arts and culture is no exception.
That plea comes most recently from composer-producer Quincy Jones, who has long wanted the United States to establish a national ministry of culture akin to those in Italy, Germany, or France. "The next conversation I have with President Obama is to beg for a secretary of arts," he said in a radio interview shortly after the presidential election. Culture and the arts are "just as important as military defense," Jones argues, and a federal arts czar can ensure that American students learn something of their cultural roots. "Every country can be defined through their food, their music, and their language," he told NPR last month. "That's the soul of a country."
Jones's call has been taken up by jazz musician Herbie Hancock, who has not only lobbied Obama on the need for a secretary of culture, but offered to fill the post, and by musicians Jaime Austria and Peter Weitzner, whose online petition endorsing the idea has been signed by more than 228,000 people. The president hasn't taken a stand, but supporters are expectant. After all, he and Joe Biden described themselves as "champions of arts and culture." Surely, they hope, a president who is a best-selling author - and who totes an iPod containing "a lot of Coltrane, a lot of Miles Davis, a lot of Charlie Parker" - will embrace the idea of an arts czar.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
So....do we want the White House deciding what represents the United States in the way of “art”?
An Arts & Culture Czar?!
Yeah, why not. Since Obama believes the free market cannot fix itself and requires gov’t intervention, let’s nationalize Hollywood, limit pay to $500,000 for any executive, actor, producer or director.
I’m sure having a gov’t agent on the set determining if the content is allowable or not is just what Hollywood wants.
“THERE IS nothing new under the sun, says the Good Book”
True... but Ecclesiastes is from the perspective of someone who sees the futility of life without God. Like in Job, Job gets a lot of bad advice then at the end God comes to Job and tells him what crazy things he’s been believing.
“the arts are “just as important as military defense,””
these people are lunatics!
“Yeah, why not. Since Obama believes the free market cannot fix itself and requires gov’t intervention....”
Well, neither did Bush; the only difference being that Bush thought the failures on Wall Street, AIG and in the banks should get to spend our money no strings attached.
Otherwise, this whole idea is just ridiculous. The last thing we need is some pretentious clown like Quincy Jones telling us what to enjoy or what American culture “really is”.
Hey!
How about CONTRIBUTING to the forum, Newbie...and not just posting and running? (Joined 1/29/09)
If you’re pimping the ‘Human Events’ and ‘The Boston Globe’ sites for hits (and that’s all you’ve done to date) your postings should be in ‘Bloggers and Personal.’
“Culture and the arts are “just as important as military defense,” Jones argues”
?!?!
Quincy, you’re a taleted guy, but stick to what you know.
Sheeesh
Unless their "roots" are Hebrew or Christian.
BEWARE AMERICA!!!
When she was Prime Minister of New Zealand, the socialist Helen Clark established a Ministry for Arts, Culture and Heritage. More than that, she appointed herself to be the Minister responsible.
I expect Obama may do the same thing. Why?
It is a great boondoggle, virtually guaranteeing magical photo ops with everybody famous in the Arts, Culture, and Heritage sectors — a very, very broad brief with a huge need for budget. The best tickets in the house to everything going, anywhere in the country.
And best of all, it can be done as the Minister/czar, rather than as the PM/President
Big opportunities to spend up and reward “the beautiful people, who will return the favor at election time.
Remember, you read it here first!
But what about that part of the constitution that clearly draws a line between art and state?
And why not appoint a “Premier of Dance” as well?!
...most of these “artists” probably don’t make very much money....but they feel they’re intellectually superior to say Bruce Springsteen who racks up mega bucks when he tours....again, this is about the envy of less successful people who want the government to do something about it.
Actually she(?) joined Jan 24, 2008.
But I’ve never seen anyone with a posting history like that.
Why does Jones want the government involved in arts and culture? Hasn’t he noticed that nothing the government gets involved in gets any better, and generally becomes markedly worse. He just wants welfare for incompetent artists who don’t like the Bush brothers, government subsidies for the guys who immerse crucifixes in buckets of urine, and more lavish compensation for pop stars who screw up the National Anthem at ball games.
The articles are timely and topical. I just think she’s an insider at one or both publications looking to jack up hits.
Heck, I pimp my favorite sites, but I also participate in the discourse around here, LOL!
That IS a strange one. Kinda like tossing tu.....I mean, unpleasant things over the fence and running.
We have always had that person but the salary was not that great. They are pushing for more power, more money.
The results would be five or maybe even ten instead of the present one National Park Artist in Residence. That is, an other wise starving artist who gets on the dole and lives at Yellowstone or perhaps Mt Elias National Park and converts her feelings into canvas or stringy grass and bark with acorns sculpture.
“the arts are “just as important as military defense,” Jones argues”
Oh, goody! Soon, we can watch while a brigade of “Piss Christ” type ‘artists’ successfully routs the Muslim jihadists
all around the world.
I can just hear the jihadi types now. “By the beard of the Profit (pun intended), there ARE people more crazier than we are.”
And they would be right, too.
Alas, crazy won’t win battles.
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