The money is there. William Bennett's gambling losses alone could have provided much conservative arts funding. Yes, yes, I agree, Bennett's private property is his to fritter away however he pleases. Even so, what a waste...
(Ironically, while big money and mainstream conservatives largely ignore the arts (apart from boycotting them), the poorer libertarians and Christian conservatives have made modest attempts to support their artists (via awards, grants, and the market), through the Libertarian Futurist Society and Institute for Humane Studies, the Dove Foundation and Christian Cinema.)
Regrettably, the idea of offering grant money ("money for nothing") to artists, and afterward to allow artists to follow their own visions (no accountability) goes against the instincts of both conservatives and libertarians. Plus boycotts, although creating nothing (and you can't fight something with nothing), are more fun for bloggers and webzines, and bring higher ratings for radio and cable TV shows.
Years from now, I expect conservatives will still be organizing new boycotts, even as the Dixie Chicks and Susan Sarandon complete new projects. I only hope that libertarians will steer a more productive course.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Brian Flemming
I've often wondered why there are so few conservatives in the arts, especially in movies and theater, where I dwell. I honestly can't say that I've ever met an (acknowledged) Republican in the cast or crew of any movie or play I've worked on.
Political conversations happen all the time backstage or on the set, but always the unspoken premise is, We're all liberals, now let's see where we differ.
I don't believe it is because of some atmosphere of intimidation/liberal cabal/etc. If there's one thing we writers, directors, actors and others have in common, it's that we can't shut the fuck up about how we feel. Especially actors.
Oh, wait! I just remembered one suspected Republican I might have worked with. The guy who played Bill Gates in my Bill Gates-assassination film. Figures.
Some ideas as to why there are so few conservatives in cinema and theater:
--Creating stories requires an open mind. A good writer of story must be able to let his or her mind wander anywhere it wants to go. A writer has to be able to use imagination to enter the point of view of someone else, perhaps someone from a completely different walk of life. And if conservatives did that, they would cease to be conservatives. The whole point of a conservative is that he sees himself as the center of the universe and defines himself against everyone else who is different.
--A good story is about change. You can't write a decent story without a change of some kind--that's the story's reason for existing. And conservatives don't like change.
--Audiences come to the theater to hope. While some movies like, say, Death Wish or Rambo, appeal to the conservative fantasy that all the badness in the world can be killed or jailed away--and, as Motion Picture Academy President (and "Dog Day Afternoon" and "Cool hand Luke" author) Frank Pierson notes here, there is a disturbing trend toward the heroes of movies being unfeeling machines that kill--most people want stories that appeal to the best in them, not the worst. And conservatism, for all its noble goals, has inevitably appealed to the worst-- fear, prejudice, hate. Liberalism has been about taking chances on hope. Who wants to see a story in which the hero STOPS somebody from changing the world for the better?
--Fags. They're everywhere in the arts. And conservatives are scared to death of them.
Gee, I hope no conservatives are reading this. They'd probably get mad.
2 - Phillip Winn
Mad? It's been a long time since name-calling has made me mad. Then again, it's been a long time since I heard such juvenile mud-slinging, too. :)
Still, Brian, it's good to see your name in the comments again. It had been a few days, I was starting to worry an encounter with reason had scared you off or something!
Anyway, on the subject of conservatives in the arts, I agree that it is a huge failing of conservatives in general that they have been content to throw stones from the sidelines rather than wade in and participate in the process. When the most well-known "Christian" artist is Michael Kinkade, something is horribly wrong!
Still, they're not unknown. Dean Koontz writes thrillers with a conservative bent. Libertarians are somewhat better. One favorite author of mine in the SF world is L.E. Modesitt, Jr. I should review some of his books. In SF, Heinlein also wrote some from a conservative perspective. Of course, he was widely misunderstood as a result, with the recent film adapation of Starship Trooper skipping all of the ideology and portraying some fo the surface elements of the film as fascist.
Of course, SF is not solely the domain of conservatives. Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars series is as liberal as Modesitt is conservative, and there are obviously others.
As far as why, I don't know. Some of it I suspect is imagined. That is, how much of art is truly liberal, and how much is neither left nor right, so it is assumed to be liberal in the absence of contrary evidence. What constitutes a liberal or conservative work of art, after all?
What makes music liberal or conservative? What makes a television show liberal or conservative? Is 24 one or the other? Was Picket Fences? How about American Idol?
As far as the movie industry goes, the opening of McCarthy's documents a few days ago is highly relevant. One thing that is now know is that while McCarthy's methods were atrocious, and his timing was perhaps off, he was right in one thing: Hollywood was the target of the Soviet Union's Communist party. Reagan similarly learned the same things, and converted to conservatism as a result, then devoted the rest of his life to combating Communism, first in Hollywood (successfully ending a boycott) and later in politics. I suggest that the extremely liberal foundation laid by the Communist party has borne fruit in a trend to the left today.
Anyway, it's a topic on which I could go on at length, mostly to criticize conservatives. To try to counter that, I'll suggest one more factor. In my experience, youth tend to trend liberal, sometimes growing more conservative as they age. This might have something to do with the natural tendency of youth to try to push boundaries and experience personal liberty, which many conservatives react against, setting themselves up as the antithesis of youth. Where does most of the money to buy CDs and go to movies come from? Those youth.
Just a thought.
3 - Brian Flemming
You've done a good job of pointing out the personal hypocrisy of many conservatives. Conservatism is SUPPOSED to place individual liberty as the highest goal of society.
In practice, conservatives rarely follow through. They rant against the "radical homosexual agenda," on the grounds that marriage is the exclusive privilege of those who meet their definition of marriage-worthiness. They support an anti-drug "war" that demonizes individuals for smoking joints. They support the growing influence of the Christian Right on government. They don't react with anger when a high-ranking Republican says the role of the state is to police the wants and desires of its citizens.
About the only area in which conservatives maintain a consistent dedication to individual liberty is when it comes to the Second Ammendment. And, come to think of it, most films that express a clearly conservative point of view involve lots and lots of guns.
Conservatives could perhaps increase their influence in the narrative arts if they expanded their libertarian streak beyond worship of instruments of violence. Then they could actually make movies in genres that didn't require the mass killing of a foreign enemy.
4 - Phillip Winn
Amazingly, Brian, we agree on this. Conservatism falls far short of its theoretical goals, a fact which galls me to no end.
I'm sure we can find room for disagreement. For example, I would equate the "radical homosexual agenda" with the "Christian right," existing - not imaginary - but not a distinct threat to society. You seem to be implying that the one is imaginary while the other is a clear and present danger. Such hysteria! :)
I read an article earlier (With comments available! Knock yourself out, Brian!) on the subject. I'll insert it paranthetically here instead of creating a whole new post, as I was debating before you brought this tired old subject up again.
Since this is a diatribe against and about conservatives, I'll resist the urge to point out how liberals tend to trumpet the 1st amendment while ignoring (or worse) the 2nd. Instead, I'll just agree. A great many of the most public conservative faces are foolishly inconsistent. It's a shame, too, because the conservative philosophy is superior, but apparently too difficult a standard for politicians to stick with once they get a whiff of the power that comes from a postal box in the Senate office building. :(
How's that for bait to derail this thread? Enjoy your afternoon, Brian. :)
5 - Al Barger
Oh, Brian- The whole point of a conservative is that he sees himself as the center of the universe and defines himself against everyone else who is different.
Really, does the asininity of this statement demand a serious answer?
Who wants to see a story in which the hero STOPS somebody from changing the world for the better?
The proper conservative response would be that they don't want to stop someone from changing things for the better, but rather from changing things for the worse. Not all change is good. Hollaring for "change" is a liberal mantra. Conservatives would be more likely to ask exactly what kind of actual practical difference, and how will it be better than what we've already got?
Conservatives can jack things up by being obstructions to needed change. For example, a lot of generally politically conservative (of whatever party brand) people were the latent opposition to ending Jim Crow, often more out of resistance to fundamental changes in their cages than out of any actual racial animosity.
On the other hand, we're quite fortunate to have had mean old uncaring conservatives to oppose the reforming forces of communism and socialism. Look at the wonders that those "progressive" utopian liberal dreams have done for absolutely every country that has ever taken the name. Russia, China, Cuba- bastions of freedom and prosperity?
There are many more artistic types with basically conservative to libertarian outlooks than are generally recognized. Partly such people's thoughts just aren't as dominated by politics. That is, they are more interested in accomplishing something rather than rhapsodizing about utopian dreams. They may just be going about their business without carrying on about their great political dreams and visions.
This does not mean a lack of imagination or thoughtfulness. For example, consider that the most obvious example of imaginative right-wing thinking on tv dominates the comedy roost, South Park. King of the Hill ain't far behind in terms of expressing skepticism to typical liberal presumptions.
Also, the independent commercial success of these shows underlines one reason why I'm skeptical of the idea of right-wing arts funding: the viable stuff tends to do just fine in the market without some special intervention. Mike Judge didn't NEED a grant: he created Beavis and Butthead. Hank Hill pays his own way.
Liberals want to think that all the smart, creative people are on their page, but they are quite presumptuous in doing so. Do you really think that Mick Jagger, for example, is a good left wing socialist?
6 - mike
Conservatives can have the second amendment if they give us all the others.
7 - Brian Flemming
Phillip,
You wrote:
...I would equate the "radical homosexual agenda" with the "Christian right," existing - not imaginary - but not a distinct threat to society. You seem to be implying that the one is imaginary while the other is a clear and present danger.
No, the glbt political agenda is not at all imaginary. I put it in quotes to indicate that that is the term the Christian Right uses for it.
But note that I use the term "Christian Right," rather than, oh, "radical theocratic agenda."
Both the radical homosexual agenda and the radical theocratic agenda exist. The difference is, one promotes tolerance, while the other promotes intolerance. I don't think there is a glbt group on earth that wants to outlaw Christianity. Doesn't work the same going the other way.
8 - Johan
Phillip Winn: "What constitutes a liberal or conservative work of art, after all?"
Good question. When it comes to the visual arts (that's where my experience is), it's soaked in neo-Marxism, feminism and any other name of pure left-wing politics. What makes a piece of art "good" today is to what degree it is political and most importantly; left-wing political. Left-wing politics have hijacked and abused Arts, with the real big starting point in 1968 (we all know what happened then, do we?). At least visual arts should not be about politics. If the concept/idea/subject/subject matter becomes more important, in let's say a painting, than the aesthetic and formal qualities, it's not art anymore because it's only an idea expressed in pictures rather than words or through a film. Don't misunderstand me here, paintings/drawings can have an idea behind it (a subject), but is it supposed to be a political one? No, because how do you present a political idea, like communism, without making the idea bigger and more important than the formal qualities? It's much easier to balance a piece of art which subject is freedom, love or any other "general" idea, and still make a piece of art which is aesthetically, formally and visually interesting and inspiring. Ask yourself this: what, in any chosen painting/drawing, is it that attract you? Do you like the drip-lines and splatter of Jackson Pollock? The imaginary fantasy worlds of Bosch? In Visual Arts, it is the formal (lines, shapes, figures, composition, colors etc.) that attracts first, and not so much the subject or subject matter (two things that are pretty much the same but different).
My personal opinion is that politics and visual art should not mix. Everything in life is not about politics (how boring would that be?) - art should be something enjoyed when you want to have a pause from politics! And this is perhaps where you can distinguish left-wing (liberal, socialist) visual art and right-wing conservative, libertarian) visual art: the former incorporates politics while the latter does (or should) not.
Al Barger: "Also, the independent commercial success of these shows underlines one reason why I'm skeptical of the idea of right-wing arts funding"
Well, if you like to see socialist, marxist, feminist propaganda instead of a perfectly ordinary painting every time you visit a museum of art or art gallery in the future I can understand why you take such a stand. In order to "save what's left" of the visual art scene, it is necessary to help conservative/libertarian artists financially. Right-wing artists like me do not grow money on tree's, and without money for a college education etc. in visual arts, we can kiss the visual arts goodbye.
(Please excuse my incoherent babbling. I had too much to say in a very short time - no time to arrange my thoughts properly, and the reason why I solely mention the visual art is because that's my field of experience and interest)
9 - Mark
Film grants for students and first time film makers would be okay for documentaries and film study, but shouldn't be used for established artists. Furthermore, if a film is not commercially viable on its own, it's probably because it stinks.
How many grant-funded films have YOU ever watched?
I thought so.
I am writing an action-thriller script right now (or actually, taking a break there-from) and it has no political goal. Who wants to write scripts that are just political lecturing? Many of the films that Conservatives and Libertarians trumpet as being like-minded are no such thing. There are films that have themes that Conservatives agree with, and there are films that avoid being Leftist drivel-fests, but that doesn't make them "Conservative" films. Films are entertainment. They should be enjoyable regardless of party affiliation.
The Liberal bias in Hollywood has nothing to do with artists being "open-minded." That is just Stalinist Party Line B.S. Liberals, who WORSHIP political correctness (they invented it), have nothing open-minded about them. Liberals fall into two categories: the leadership and the pawns. The leaders are Liberal because they see the Left as vehicle to their own goals (particularly money and power). Examples are Ted Turner, Hillary Clinton and Ramsey Clark. Pawns are Liberal because they don't understand the issues. Ask your average film student to describe the Laffer Curve or the process of wealth creation. Ask the same student to tell you what happened in Hungary in 1956 or in Czechoslovakia in 1968? Ask them about marginal utility. Ask the who James Madison was or about the Enumerated Powers Clause. Ask them what the difference is between a primary and a general election. Ask them to name to houses of Congress. THEY HAVEN'T THE FOGGIEST. It would be like asking for my thoughts on quantum physics. Easy answer: I ain't got any. But I'm more honest than some (such as Oliver Stone).
That's okay, though. Only a nitwit gets their politics from Hollywood and MTV. And one other thing:
As I said, to be commercially viable, a film can't stink. The more so if it costs a lot by Hollywood standards to make. That said, a film that tries to shove Leftist "I hate America" junk down the market's throat makes a very quick leap to video and in-flight movies. People don't want to see it.
Saving Private Ryan was done by Liberals. It is not a Liberal movie.
My movie, should it ever be made, is written by a neo-Conservative. It is not a Conservative movie.
Long live the movie-theater.
10 - Natalie Davis
"As I said, to be commercially viable, a film can't stink."
You can't seriously believe that. A lot of trash is popular and makes money.
That said, I am all for funding artists of all viewpoints. More art, not less, is a good thing.
11 - Mark
Okay, okay...a film can stink and still be commercially viable. But it would be so much MORE commercially viable if it didn't stink.
12 - Mark
Quoting: "Conservatives can have the second amendment if they give us all the others."
One gun, one vote. (That's why there IS a second amendment....)
13 - Natalie Davis
It seems Hollywood often thinks otherwise. Consider all the wonderful films that are deemed poison in terms of being commercially viable. All too often, "commercially viable" equals explosions, scantily clad hunks and babes, and sophomoric "humor." "Art" films, meaning well-done ones with a "higher" purpose, are considered extremely tough sells and have a very hard time getting green lights and greenbacks.
14 - Mark Saleski
first you say that liberals have nothing "open minded" about them...then you go on to state, with absolute surety, that there are only two types of liberals.
so there's absolutely no middle ground?
very open-minded of you.
15 - Chris
Just a small comment of the use and misuse of the word "conservative." At its base, to be politically conservative means to reject ideology in favor of tradition and building on the wisdom of earlier generations. It means a desire to see the institutions instrumental to a civil society presevered and protected. It means waiting for change to occur naturally, not impose it as a "good idea." If it is a good idea, time will show it.
As far as "conservatives" in the Arts, the film "A Simple Plan" pretty much sums up what conservative art might look like.
16 - Chris Arabia
open-minded people generally don't virulently hate people who differ because they differ, over political issues or whatever. some people might want to consider how consistent a pervasive (and often personal) hatred of non-leftists is with a nominally "progressive" outlook.
some of the qualities that make many liberals or leftists good artists are the same ones that make them dangerous to the polity: passion, imagining a better world, willingness to devote oneself to the vision or cause. in a realm that you can control, such as the confines of a film, that is fine.
it doesn't work as well in political reality, and if the passion turns against the people who prove incapable of realizing the vision (basically everybody) or who oppose the vision quest, then watch out, as history has shown. in the u.s. at this point, a revolutionary vanguard is part of the problem--no matter whence it comes. easy does it, not to imply that we are drunk.
that said, another substantial factor is close-mindedness. non-leftists are fairly unwelcome in academia, e.g., and, if flemming is a representative example, how welcome would a non-leftist feel standing around with he and his colleagues in the lower rungs of the film industry? intolerance for conservatives at the bottom is going to reduce the number who make it higher.
more funding is part of the solution--private funding. non-lefties should try to do a better job on this score, so that we have more south parks to balance pantloads like the life of david gale. we should also let rich lefties like soros, and not the govt, fund lefty art.
stereotypical conservatives, to use a weak argument technique, are less likely to pursue artistic careers that are a longshot to end in success in part because they are so unlikely to end in success. they figure they can work and do the family thing in the heartland and be happy.
libertarians tend to be the toughest to pigeonhole, but i think based on what i have seen in the blogosphere libertarians count an impressive number of outstanding writers among their ranks. the desire to be left to your own devices is appealing to some creative people.
so there. sorry i dont have time to clean up this comment.
17 - Beavis Jones
I am Cornholio!
18 - Eric Olsen
whoa, time warp
19 - Mac Diva
I just can't see it. In my experience, conservatives and libertarians (who are just conservatives with longer hair) do not like to share. If their entire ideology could be boiled down to one thing, that would be it. Contributing to the arts -- or endowing scholarships or supporting job training for the poor -- is, you guessed it, sharing.
Ancillary to not liking to share is not giving credit when others share with them. For example, many of them will go on and on about not getting anything for their taxes, while driving on federal highways, sending their kids to public schools and eating food and taking drugs that were tested by federal agencies.
Thomas is suggesting that conservatives and libertarians contribute to fellow conservatives and libertarians who happen to be artists, not artists in general. Still, I don't think it will happen much. Because . . . that would be sharing.
20 - Chris
This not sharing would explain why the people in the Red States contribute, in what might be called considerable amounts, more to charity than the Blue States.
21 - Natalie Davis
This is purely speculation on my part, but I have a sense that they contribute primarily to right-wing or fundamentalist efforts, like anti-abortion counseling centers, Jerry Falwell schools, and Christian missions. (Which, if correct, is completely within their rights; I am not criticizing.) But, for example, I would wager that Planned Parenthood and leftist housing and food bank efforts are getting their funding from blue-staters.
22 - JR
Numbers, please.
23 - Chris Arabia
Great point, other Chris. The top 20 states in charitable giving were all red states--and this was not an aberration, as it has been consistently so. I'm sure this dismays the heartland haters on the left so they will block it out. It probably also annoys the self-glorifying "activists" who are so generous--with other people's money--and so quick to trumpet their moral superiority over the evil heartlanders.
The "don't like to share" argument is idiotic even by mac's standards and is based on her ignorance and baseless personal animus toward people who differ more than anything connected to reality.
Mac likes to make stuff up--like this, her professional qualifications, etc.
on a serious note, public schools are a bad example of people sponging off the government--the government takes the money regardless of whether people send their kids to crappy government schools.
go ahead, accuse me of buying my wife.
24 - Chris
I couldn't find the link I wanted, but Comment 2 in this thread has a breakdown of percentages according to States.
And, Natalie, it probably is speculation because in these parts of the US, most of the food bank efforts, etc. are undertaken by the different churches so that your tithe goes directly to support those efforts. Not to mention all the earmarking of funds for specific mission programs, mission programs in the community not overseas, that goes on in local churches in OK.
For instance, the church I attend has adopted several local inner city elementary schools to buy school supplies, coats, clothes, etc. And, one of the more prominent charities here in OKC is Coats for Kids. Coats for Kids does take direct monetary donations, but they like for people to actually buy a coat and then donate it.
And, there is only Jerry Falwell school I am aware of, Liberty University, and it is in Virginia.
25 - Chris Arabia
Here is the generosity index: this should link, but if not: use this:
http://www.catalogueforphilanthropy.org/cfp/db/generosity.php?year=2003
how long until a BC heartland hater tries to make this unpleasant reality disappear?
and that cheap resort to religion bashing is odious at best--as if charity through the church is less worthy than charity through a lefty or righty (and often politicized) non-profit--and many of "nonprofits" absorb most of the money they earn (80% is far too common).
i can't believe someone would stoop to that level of rhetoric instead of just accepting this information. as someone who worked in the charity sphere, i find the anti-religion angle pretty preposterous.
charity is less valid if it doesn't comply with someone's politics? jeeze.