Music | October 29, 2012 | 35 comments

IT ALL STARTS AND ENDS WITH THE ARTS

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SubsidizeAllArts
Even more than "accumulating knowledge", education is about teaching students to THINK... about honing the ability for abstract thought. 

Problem solving is more than regurgitating formulae and punching data into a computer.. it is being able to actualize the formulae... design the computer.

We need visionaries more than we need expeditors... creators more than dispatchers.

The Classical Greeks knew that music was the most important focus of all study (in fact, those without a knowledge of it were considered illiterate for thousands of years hence in just about every enlightened society)...  and that math and science were outgrowths of it.

Believe it or not, art and music, literature and drama are all as important subjects as are math and science (the "panaceas-du-jour").. for without them, creative abilities atrophy and we end up with a society of drones... which might very well be the goal of the corporatists, the oligarchs and the plutocrats who seem hellbent on establishing a permanent underclass of indentured servants.

Milton Friedmans wettest of dreams.

It also never ceases to amaze me that so many republicans, teabaggers and right-wingers in general feel that a comprehensive liberal arts education is somehow a “liability”... that being "creative", an "intellectual" or an "academic" is somehow a “fault”…. that to be a "scholar" and to be honored as part of an “elite” group of achievers somehow makes one worthy of contempt. 



These are not pejoratives. These are things to take great pride in.



What I find even more disturbing is that these very same semi-literates insist on controlling our schools in what all evidence points to is a deliberate move to dumb this Nation down even more than it has already been (if that is even possible), not only intellectually but morally as well.



An uneducated populace is easiest to control.



We must no longer allow the thugs and the haters, those who conjure the pounding of jackbooted lockstep with every utterance to hijack the language and sciences.. our history (warts and all) and the arts... just as they have our culture.. a slimy, cynical tactic used by those craving despotic power who once (and still do) sport virtual armbands to try to lull the masses into thinking that they are somehow in danger by those who have dared read a book or go to a museum.


Filling them with ignorance, with fear, with hatred.

FDR, in similar economic circumstances to that we currently suffer knew, in his infinite wisdom, what we must relearn today.

Amongst other stimuli, he created the Works Progress Administration which commissioned artists and composers, architects and writers that not only created an American culture enjoyed by all, but introduced and made accessible to the public great works that defined a nation comprised of literate, refined, cultivated people.

Our “Greatest Generation”.

There is more to a country than just it's “economy”.

There is also a tremendous need to rejuvenate our culture and to, once again, promote and fund more Art and Music, more Literature and Theatre, and finally retake our National Identity, one that has been hijacked by "cheap imports", vapid amusement and corporate mediocrity.



It’s finally time raise the bar for a change.
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  2. tags:
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35 comments // IT ALL STARTS AND ENDS WITH THE ARTS

  • bailey78
  • remanns
  • bailey78
    • 0
      bailey78  
    • remanns:

      I have tried painting back years ago. I'm not a painter. I have tried many things over the years tho. The only thing I really enjoy is fixing things. Well that and smoking a joint and drinking coffee. I have been thinking about doing a art car of some kind.Maybe a fishing lure motif.

    • 7 months ago
  • warman1138
  • warman1138
  • trut
    • -3
      trut  

    • Maybe in your privileged little world it all starts and ends with the arts but it doesn't where I come from. The people who like the art can pay for it. As for me I'll spend my money on things I like not what some flash in the pan claims is needed for a civilized and enlightened society.
      How much do you think these guys were given by the gov't?
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sLSqrzuLwo&feature=related

    • 7 months ago
  • SubsidizeAllArts
  • Hardytoo
    • +4
      Hardytoo  
    • trut:

      How many of the musical artists you know and love today got their start playing an instrument in the school band, or in a school singing group? That's what this is about - the job of Music Teacher or Art Teacher is going the way of the dinosaur. Each child deserves a chance to use the one instrument each possesses - voice.

    • 7 months ago
  • SubsidizeAllArts
  • trut
  • Hardytoo
  • SubsidizeAllArts
  • hombre76
  • trut
  • SubsidizeAllArts
  • SubsidizeAllArts
  • hombre76
  • SubsidizeAllArts
  • bailey78
  • SubsidizeAllArts
    • +5
      SubsidizeAllArts  

    • The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. 

      To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector.

      46 percent of total revenue comes from admissions, contract fees, and membership services.  Contributed income (from individuals, foundations, businesses, and government agencies) makes up 41 percent of all revenues.  The largest share of contributed income is from individuals (20.7 percent) and the smallest are from government sources (4.3 percent).

      Total annual revenue is $13.6 billion.

      That is more the FOUR TIMES the amount earned each year by "NASCAR".

      “It’s clear that Americans value the arts, through the time and money they spend on the arts,” said NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman.  “Beyond the economic fact that the arts generate significant revenue, the arts are a shared, social activity, and that’s something that enhances the civic life of our communities.” 

      Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit that produces the show ‘Sesame Street,’ ALONE made $46.9 million JUST IN REVENUE FROM LICENSING BIG BIRD, ELMO, THE COOKIE MONSTER AND OTHER CHARACTERS in 2011.. and that does NOT include MUSIC from the shows, etc.

      This money helped pay the salaries of 1,320 employees.

      1,320 AMERICAN JOBS.

      Romneys contention that we "borrow from China" to support them is a lie (one of about a MILLION more).. in fact, this is one of the FEW Government programs that actually MAKES money..

      A rare PROFIT CENTER adding REVENUE into our coffers!!!

      In other words... a GREAT INVESTMENT by the taxpayers showing a RETURN for us ALL!!

      .... and Mitt "Businessman" Romney wants to end it.

      Go figure.

    • 7 months ago
  • warman1138
  • Hardytoo
    • +5
      Hardytoo  

    • Really glad to see this brought to the fore. Agree 100% - the arts in any form are essential to a child's growth, as well as expanding the minds of adults.
      Thanks for this post.

    • 7 months ago
  • Vierotchka
    • +5
      Vierotchka  

    • This artist and retired musician can only wholly agree with you. Unfortunately, nobody ever subsidized me for my artwork and musical career.

    • 7 months ago
  • SubsidizeAllArts
  • Vierotchka
  • artemis6
    • +3
      artemis6  
    • Vierotchka:

      Me either ... except at the beginning . i got to go to college . The thing about creative persons is that they NEVER stop creating .... they can't as long as their health holds out . So they should be able to do what they do ... live for free and give it away for free ( only to those who appreciate it ) . What do you think ?

    • 7 months ago
  • Vierotchka
  • artemis6
    • +1
      artemis6  
    • Vierotchka:

      Of course , that is just my point . The BEST use of an artists time and energy is to create , Producing artists should have free places to live and get to eat free , because what they produce is MORE important that money . It wastes our time . It robs the world of what we COULD be doing with that energy . When i was 6 someone asked me how much i would charge for a picture i did , they were being kind , i know , but , it was really upsetting to me . How do you put a price on your own soul ? It is in NO WAY a fair trade . Perhaps i am just not wired for capitalism , though . Too sentimental .

    • 7 months ago
  • Vic_Romano
    • +5
      Vic_Romano  

    • I think it has more to do with recognizing the inherent dignity in everyone and ALL work. Sadly, our society has really misplaced its priorities in wanting everyone to be a doctor, lawyer or engineer.

    • 7 months ago
  • remanns
  • remanns
  • SubsidizeAllArts
    • +8
      SubsidizeAllArts  

    • Subsidizing the arts has been a bulwark of enlightened civilizations for eons... and, despite the fact that the NEA and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting actually CREATES revenue that is returned to the Government (contrary to Romney's lies), we have had a long, proud history of doing the same.

    • 7 months ago
  • remanns
  • MSII
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