tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post1545602311274791964..comments2024-01-07T06:59:04.212-05:00Comments on The Playgoer: Obama's NEAPlaygoerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994724588504353485noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-20636232122205209312009-03-11T14:28:00.000-04:002009-03-11T14:28:00.000-04:00This is a very insightful post that offers a reali...This is a very insightful post that offers a realistic and practical solution to the problems facing theatre and the economy today. I very much appreciated the quote from Paul Almedia to open your post as it provided a wonderful sense of contextual hindsight before laying down the points of your argument. I completely agree that the power of government funding for the arts is best left in the hands of the state. Under the control of the Federal government, I fear that theatre would run the risk of becoming oppressively political, as you exemplified with the potentially controversial federally funded productions of plays such as The Larimie Project and Angels in America. It seems that artistic creation would inevitably have to battle political institutions to make any sort of controversial stance, which would no doubt be harmful to the voice of theatre. I also agree with Rlewis above that the United States is simply not ready for any type of cabinet level arts position. As a nation we are not anywhere near the level of appreciation for the value of the arts that is necessary for a position of this nature to be taken seriously. <BR/><BR/>Especially during our current economic struggles, something must be done to make theatre more affordable and more accessible to the masses. Your proposed state-level funding may just be that something. It would allow for a more appropriate appropriation of funds, given each state’s unique artistic identity. However, as you wrote, state funding for the arts is unfortunately being placed on backburner during this recession. This is quite expected considering the level of priority given to the arts in society, which is an entire problem in itself. Until this general misperception of art is challenged and reversed, I don’t foresee any real change coming from government level in increasing theatre’s accessibility. I would love to hear your thoughts on this, as well as how you think we can begin to break down these incorrect notions of theatre and the arts to pave the way for a greater acceptance by society and a greater availability for society.Jonathan Jovelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05339289527107680673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-50023841289363300862009-01-28T16:09:00.000-05:002009-01-28T16:09:00.000-05:00I believe that "states rights" is just one of many...I believe that "states rights" is just one of many conservative "values" that we could co-op to great effect. And I'm certainly not in favor of an arts position in the Obama cabinet. We may as well throw the republicans a big pinata with A-R-T written on it. <BR/><BR/>If we, as a community, are not ready to go to the mattresses to defend the value of arts, and we're not, then we don't need to offer up our field for target practice again. <BR/><BR/>We just need to keep the $50 mil' in the stimulus pack, and defend it as "shovel ready" - we have one of the few national structures constantly in place to get money into the economy right away - the NEA.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-20116281735646576402009-01-27T18:47:00.000-05:002009-01-27T18:47:00.000-05:00I agree with your comments on the states. It is be...I agree with your comments on the states. It is better to govern on a more granular scale, where each state (and communities within the state) have their own unique focus on the arts.Roger Dunbarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09465166135588750412noreply@blogger.com