tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post3597610532599816598..comments2024-01-07T06:59:04.212-05:00Comments on The Playgoer: Lincoln Center OK With Creepy Tea Party BillionairePlaygoerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994724588504353485noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-33141285518810409122010-09-01T16:53:55.418-04:002010-09-01T16:53:55.418-04:00Looking at personal politics behind funders is a d...Looking at personal politics behind funders is a dangerous game, and just because Bill Buckley also disagreed with the politics of Koch doesn't mean they were more right wing, it means they come from a non-establishment point of view, versus Buckley's establishment conservatism. Yes, if Koch were also committing genocide, that might be food for a different sort of thought. But libertarianism, even at its most extreme, is a political philosophy. And theater should always be about opening discussion, not closing it.Edward Einhornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10687333404251296326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-65535822609723009642010-09-01T11:12:32.402-04:002010-09-01T11:12:32.402-04:00It's a false equivalency to equate Soros and K...It's a false equivalency to equate Soros and Koch - Koch funds political ideas that pad his bottom line exclusively, whereas Soros often supports initiatives that cost him money or raise his taxes. Also you cannot call turning down free money "denying someone a seat at the table." Also the Libertarian ideal in no way supports open opportunity for everyone. Libertarians are fighting tooth and nail for a world where everyone is free to do whatever the hell they want with their money, with no government interference, and no one has to "be fair" to anyone if they don't want, so if group A wants to discriminate against group B, they can, and it is up to group B to decide how to counter. Having said that, I say, Sure! take Koch's money. Why not let him do a few nice things among all the pain and misery and death? Should we tear down the Peterhof just because Stalin restored it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-14142487540695803082010-08-31T10:40:11.276-04:002010-08-31T10:40:11.276-04:00I stand by my point, Anon. "Propaganda" ...I stand by my point, Anon. "Propaganda" is a politically neutral term and can be employed by anyone. And if there were an arts center named for Pinochet or Hitler, I have a feeling I'd know what to expect before considering a subscription. <br /><br />I'd be curious to know, however, if any of the programming funded by the Koch brothers has explicitly toed the teabagger line. <br /><br />This is the irony I'd rather you think about: you seem to be the kind of person who would deny a seat at the table for the kind of people who would deny people a seat at the table. Doesn't that make you at least a little bit like them? <br /><br />But if you want to explore the extremes you mentioned for real, just google the Bayreuth Festival--it's one of the most famous opera fests in the world, founded by Wagner and lavishly doted on by the Nazis. There's no denying its influential place in artistic history... but there's no denying its umbilical attachment to the Nazis either.TheEsoCritichttp://www.theesocritic.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-23785039054512782562010-08-30T08:56:03.693-04:002010-08-30T08:56:03.693-04:00"...A place at the table for everyone, otherw..."...A place at the table for everyone, otherwise...it's propaganda."<br /><br />What about "Pinochet Center for the Arts"? Or "Goebbels Center for the Arts"? Those have nice little rings. "Adolf Hitler Dance Hall" -- funded with all the gold he plundered from Jews and gay people. His money is as good as anyone's.<br /><br /><br />I know this is more extreme than Koch and that the Tea Party morons aren't Hitler, I know i know i know. But politics and art actually do have a relationship, and infractructure can't NOT have an impact on superstructure...<br /><br />Just something to think about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-21647569813720708612010-08-27T23:38:08.091-04:002010-08-27T23:38:08.091-04:00@Rob said: "How about another idea: let's...@Rob said: "How about another idea: let's stick to talking about the work that these benefactors support, instead of throwing around terms like "fascists" in ways that suggest not everyone understands what they actually mean." Those are not the only two alternatives. Just "talking about the work" and ignoring its funding is naive, and silence is any political agenda's best enabler. On the other hand, calling someone "fascist" is usually simplistic and rarely helpful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-58071610084845007912010-08-27T12:24:31.092-04:002010-08-27T12:24:31.092-04:00If anything, Koch's support for local institut...If anything, Koch's support for local institutions is just an expression of his political philosophy - support of these groups should be determined by individuals, not the government. <br /><br />And as much as I disagree with most of the right, I think his money is as good as that of the out of touch, wealthy liberal who thinks bringing British born Shakespeare to NYC is more important than funding homegrown groups. (Yeah, I'm still pissed about the RSC's campaign to take over our theatre.) <br /><br />For me, the real issue here is the disparity of funding in our arts community, at both the individual and state/federal level.Matthttp://thisblogtastesfunny.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-72571239653631605482010-08-27T10:16:55.196-04:002010-08-27T10:16:55.196-04:00I love your blog, Garrett, but I have to agree wit...I love your blog, Garrett, but I have to agree with your conservative friend above.<br /><br />Artistically, there should be "a place at the table" for everyone, otherwise it isn't art. It becomes propaganda. <br /><br />Taking aim at cultural institutions willing to sell their souls to big money is always appropriate, and I encourage you to keep beating that drum. <br /><br />But it sounds like you're calling less for a boycott and more for a blacklist. We can't go there and call ourselves a free society based on enlightenment values. We just can't. <br /><br />And I think you know this.TheEsoCritichttp://www.theesocritic.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-90282838091816593832010-08-26T16:33:19.134-04:002010-08-26T16:33:19.134-04:00Normally this theater lover, long term NYC residen...Normally this theater lover, long term NYC resident, and ardent Republican is a big fan of your blog. I must say, though, that I find this post incredibly disappointing.<br /><br />Under your view I guess I should avoid all exhibits, etc. that George Soros gives money to, given that I find his politics pretty abhorrent. Like the Koch brothers, Soros throws his money around quite liberally for causes he believes in. Last time I checked, that was all of their rights. I'm glad that at the same time they see fit to support various art causes as well.<br /><br />How about another idea: let's stick to talking about the work that these benefactors support, instead of throwing around terms like "fascists" in ways that suggest not everyone understands what they actually mean.Robnoreply@blogger.com