Calling all Culture Warriors

Continental Congress of Art ^ | 1/16/02 | Antoninus

[Antoninus]

On January 10, 1963, Democrat congressman A. S. Herlong, Jr. of Florida read, with unanimous consent, a list of 'Current Communist Goals' into the Congressional record. This prescient list, taken from a book called "The Naked Communist," by Cleon Skousen, has been posted on Free Republic several times.

Perhaps what's most shocking about this list are the cultural items. Goals that would have been considered absurdities 40 years ago are today eerily real. To review a few of the points on the list:

• 21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.

• 22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."

• 23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."

• 25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.

• 31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture."...

• 32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture....

Now, supposedly communism was dealt a political death-blow in the late 1980's. However, as we all know, the progeny of the original far-left culture warriors have created new bastions within our very own educational, media, entertainment, and cultural institutions. Our political attempts to disconnect these individuals from the government teat have been, on the whole, failures. In the face of these reverses, many social conservative commentators have thrown in the towel, declaring the culture war lost or unwinnable.

I disagree. In order to fight and win a culture war, your side must be able to present a viable alternative. The 'counter-culture' of the 1960s is a classic example of this strategy. With rare exceptions, conservatives, traditionalists, Americanists, and republicans (small R), were not able to respond to this counter-cultural tidal-wave effectively. Thus, the 'counter-culture' of the 1960s has become the dominant culture today. While individual writers or artists of a traditional bent may occasionally rise up and be recognized, they are now at the mercy of the anti-American, anti-family, anti-tradition, anti-religion dominant culture that rules the media, the publishing industry, Hollywood, and the art scene.

But with the advent of the Internet, we now have a way to circumvent completely the apparatus of the cultural elites. A single individual with an idea now has the capacity to reach most of the country and indeed the world with his or her message. As we all know, Free Republic has demonstrated this capability to an amazing degree. This single site and its army of Freepers has the ability to shape debate, cow or encourage the media and petty local officials, and influence elections.

Believing that more needs to be done on the cultural front, myself and Claud, two Freepers of long standing, have set up a website called:

The Continental Congress of Art

Our hope is that this site will "build interest in the vast artistic and literary treasure trove of American civilization, as well as serve as a hub for new ideas and endeavors, with the common goal being the advancement of literature and fine art in the United States of America." In short, we hope to turn the site into a network and free showcase for like-minded artists and writers, and play a part, however small, in a cultural reawakening in America.

Similar to the original Continental Congress of 1774, we are hoping to attract 'delegates' from across the country. As this effort is very much in its infancy, we have posted to date only four individuals on our delegates page (most of whom are associated in some way with our publishing program), representing three northeastern states. We are eager to add delegates from other states and regions and based on the popularity of the 'Free Republic Poet Laureate' threads, we know there are many Freeper writers and artists out there. If you think you've got what it takes to become a delegate, we encourage you to visit the site and give it a shot.

Even if you're not a writer or artist, you might be interested in visiting the site just to check out our links to America's Heritage, our Guide to Literary Form, or the photos of America scattered throughout the site taken by Claud and yours truly.

[Antoninus]

And of course, if any of you have constructive criticism, comments, or ideas for how to improve the site, please feel free to chime in. We're still working on things over there.

[Antoninus]

FYI, bump.

[Rudder]

While the implication is that communists have directed the cultural changes cited above, most of those in America who advocate for these leftist positions do not see themselves as communists and they would adamantly deny they support communism in any form. Nevertheless, they have managed the communist agenda rather sucessfully

[WarPaint]

"War to the hilt between communism and capitalism is inevitable. Today, of course, we are not strong enough to attack. Our time will come in thirty or forty years. To win, we shall need the element of surprise. The Western world will need to be put to sleep. So we shall begin by launching the most spectacular peace movement on record. There shall be electrifying overtures and unheard of concessions. The capitalist countries, stupid and decadent, will rejoice to cooperate to their own destruction. They will leap at another chance to be friends. As soon as their guard is down, we shall smash them with our clenched fist."

Dmitrii Z. Manuilskii

Lenin School of Political Warfare

Moscow, 1931

[Antoninus]

Bump to poets and others...

[Antoninus]

While the implication is that communists have directed the cultural changes cited above, most of those in America who advocate for these leftist positions do not see themselves as communists and they would adamantly deny they support communism in any form. Nevertheless, they have managed the communist agenda rather sucessfully

I fully agree. Let's not forget that the spread of the communist agenda has depended heavily on the enthusiastic support of people they term 'useful idiots' - those who would support their short-term aims and those they proclaimed to the public (peace, workers' rights, racial equality, etc.), even if they were in the dark about their long-term goals.

There is now concrete evidence that foreign-supported members of the Communist Party USA did infiltrate Hollywood starting in the 1930's. All of the members of the 'celebrated' Hollywood 10 were in fact communists, though they were loath to admit it. Given the scorn heaped upon the HUAC investigations of the time by our contemporary 'artists' and 'entertainers', one is forced to wonder how successful this infiltration really was.

But don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to make the case that our current cultural situation is completely the result of some nefarious covert "communist" infiltration. However, it has always amazed me that the leaders of our cultural and educational institutions, entertainment icons and media outlets all seem to sing from the same song-sheet in terms of political issues.

[Antoninus]

"War to the hilt between communism and capitalism is inevitable. Today, of course, we are not strong enough to attack. Our time will come in thirty or forty years. To win, we shall need the element of surprise. The Western world will need to be put to sleep. So we shall begin by launching the most spectacular peace movement on record. There shall be electrifying overtures and unheard of concessions. The capitalist countries, stupid and decadent, will rejoice to cooperate to their own destruction. They will leap at another chance to be friends. As soon as their guard is down, we shall smash them with our clenched fist."

Worth repeating. I have a quote from Stalin saying that he felt that if he could control Hollywood, he could take over the world. I can't find an internet source for it, though. Ever heard it?

[WarPaint]

No... but I will look for it.

[patent]

Bumpity.

[patent]

>>>But don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to make the case that our current cultural situation is completely the result of some nefarious covert "communist" infiltration. However, it has always amazed me that the leaders of our cultural and educational institutions, entertainment icons and media outlets all seem to sing from the same song-sheet in terms of political issues.

They largely play by different rules, going after one institution after another. AS soon as they get a foothold, that foothold is used to bring in more and more people like them. They may not see themselves as communist cells, but for practical purposes they act like them.

patent

[redhead]

...Shudder!....

[He Rides A White Horse]

15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.

They have accomplished this. Take a look at the list, then ask yourself how many of these things listed the Democratic Party stands for.

[WarPaint]

"Worth repeating. I have a quote from Stalin saying that he felt that if he could control Hollywood, he could take over the world. I can't find an internet source for it, though. Ever heard it?"

Check this out. (I don't know how to make fancy links.)

http://home.att.net/~dericker/Errors/what_did__hollywood_contri.htm

[maestro]

Your# 7)Worth repeating. I have a quote from Stalin saying that he felt that if he could control Hollywood, he could take over the world

Anti-Christianity=Feminism=Postmodernism=Socialism's Communism=TOTALITARIAN DEMOCRACY=Feminism's Anti-Christianity

[Claud]

It is a sad fact of modern conservatism that while we have plenty of cultural critics, we seem to have so few cultural contributors. You can't banish the darkness from a room--you have to bring in the light.

Where is our answer to Hollywood? Where is our answer to the post-modern literary/arts establishment? Why do we always complain about the tripe they put out, and yet fail to put out anything better? Why are we playing by *their* rules, toadying up to their producers, studio executives, galleries, music critics, etc.?

The only way to win the culture war is to actually FIGHT one--and not merely by protesting what is there now, but by superseding and replacing it. *We* conservatives have the scholarship, *we* have the vision, *we* have the timeless values that will be here long after the idiocies of the modern era have passed beyond memory. Then by all means, let's DEVELOP them.

I am sick and tired of hearing conservatives complain about what's out there artistically. Are we mice, and not men? Are we complainers, and not doers? Are we destined to become a movement of crotchety old men, forever condemning, and never constructing? Have we become post-modernists and nihilists ourselves?

If we don't band together on this, the liberals and their feckless "art" will win by default. Cry havoc, conservative artists... and let slip the dogs of war.

[patent]

>>>Cry havoc, conservative artists... and let slip the dogs of war.

If I show you my art you will cry all right. My wife is more the artist, so we have hope for the kids.

patent

[WarPaint]

Love doin' the research... but gotta go to work for now. Here's another link.

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a36e0edd91034.htm

[Antoninus]

HOLLYWOOD PARTY - Communism, Communists, and Cinema

Good link.

[Antoninus]

Anti-Christianity=Feminism=Postmodernism=Socialism's Communism=TOTALITARIAN DEMOCRACY=Feminism's Anti-Christianity

You forgot a few: Homosexualism=Nihilism=Radical Environmentalism

[Antoninus]

Wow, this article should be posted to FR on it's own, if it hasn't been already. Brilliant! Here's a link:

What did Hollywood Contribute to Socialism?