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3 pages/≈825 words
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MLA
Subject:
Literature & Language
Type:
Essay
Language:
English (U.S.)
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$ 10.8
Topic:
Who should pay?
Essay Instructions:
Read about the Mapplethorpe trial and the NEA's Arts in Public Places program at Village Voice.
NEWS FLASH!! The House backed a Republican effort to abolish the National Endowment for the Arts, branded by conservatives as an elite group that bankrolls immoral art. By one vote, the House cleared the way for a vote to replace the NEA, which distributes grants for the arts, with block grants to school districts and state arts councils. Some Democrats say they expect the White House and the Senate will save the agency that they say is essential for bringing art to smaller communities and poor areas.
Premise: The National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting have all been under attack by various members of congress for the past seven years. Leading the charge is former Rep. Newt Gingrich. Mr. Gingrich, like many congressional leaders (and many citizens)—believes that taxpayer money should not be used to support artists, exhibitions or public and private performances by dance and theatre groups, programs that bring visual and performing artists into schools or rural areas, or works of art in public places.
In 1994, shortly after he became Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Gingrich began to outline some of his opinions regarding "cultural" funding in early speeches and interviews. During a December 30, 1994, interview by Brian Lamb of C-SPAN, former Rep. Gingrich stated the basic points to his position, including the suggestion that most government funded art is "elitist," and should be funded by the private sector, as well as the suggestion that some funded artists have created works that are obscene or sacrilegious.
Although Mr. Gingrich is no longer a member of the House of Representatives, he started a battle that his like-minded colleagues are continuing to wage even today. In the August 7, 1995 issue of TIME® Magazine, senior writer Robert Hughes presented a nine-page article—"Pulling the Fuse on Culture," one of the most comprehensive and compassionate arguments in favor of government funding of the arts. Hughes, a scholarly writer and respected art historian, who's major works include Shock of the New and American Visions, presented a persuasive argument against the Republican attack on "cultural funding." Mr. Hughes' article identified Rep. Gingrich and several other conservative GOP and religious leaders as those who have led the charge for the abolishment of the NEA, NEH, and CPB.
Time required to do this project: The time is variable and dependent upon how much you wish to say!
How to start: If you feel strongly one way or the other, you should let your congressional leaders know. There are many points to this issue. Are the arts important to us? Should the American taxpayer support cultural funding? Read the opinions stated by Mr. Hughes and former Rep. Gingrich, and state your case.
Essay Sample Content Preview:
Name
Lecturer
Course
Date
Government must continue funding Arts in America
The arguments conservatives have put forward against the funding of the arts in America today do have valid points to enable us ponder about what direction we as Americans want the funding of arts to take. This also shades more light into the effectiveness of funding the arts and where America has come from and where she is today as a cross-cultural nation with dynamic culture that has heavily influenced modern world art and music. Funding the arts has far much helped Americans reach where they are today, and it is no surprise that the pros far much more outweigh the shortfalls in this argument between liberals and conservatives. The influence is not limited to art on its own though as art is known to influence a number of factors from politics to economics.
The big question here though is whether the arts are of any importance to us as Americans and if they are, of what value role are the arts playing in our society today. What would we do to save the culture? If the arts are so important, are we going to cut government funding? These are the real issues that congress should seek to address while striving to liberalize or stifle the efforts of artists around the country. Furthermore, America prides itself as being a model of democracy that welcomes all manner of expressions. The American constitution has entrenched and protected every citizen`s right to express them in whatever manner at whatever time as long as during the act of expressions no other person`s rights are being infringed up on.
It is becoming more evident that today more than ever that the arts have become central to self expression, exploration, imagination, communication and establishment of a historical as well as cultural understanding.
The arts are known to have several benefits to individuals and to a considerably large extent the nation and the world. For example Arts in educational centers such as schools or colleges or community centers is known to improve the student`s critical thinking skills and problem-solving techniques. This has been established to improve the overall grade and school success and therefore by a considerable extension adequately preparing the student for the professional world out t...
Lecturer
Course
Date
Government must continue funding Arts in America
The arguments conservatives have put forward against the funding of the arts in America today do have valid points to enable us ponder about what direction we as Americans want the funding of arts to take. This also shades more light into the effectiveness of funding the arts and where America has come from and where she is today as a cross-cultural nation with dynamic culture that has heavily influenced modern world art and music. Funding the arts has far much helped Americans reach where they are today, and it is no surprise that the pros far much more outweigh the shortfalls in this argument between liberals and conservatives. The influence is not limited to art on its own though as art is known to influence a number of factors from politics to economics.
The big question here though is whether the arts are of any importance to us as Americans and if they are, of what value role are the arts playing in our society today. What would we do to save the culture? If the arts are so important, are we going to cut government funding? These are the real issues that congress should seek to address while striving to liberalize or stifle the efforts of artists around the country. Furthermore, America prides itself as being a model of democracy that welcomes all manner of expressions. The American constitution has entrenched and protected every citizen`s right to express them in whatever manner at whatever time as long as during the act of expressions no other person`s rights are being infringed up on.
It is becoming more evident that today more than ever that the arts have become central to self expression, exploration, imagination, communication and establishment of a historical as well as cultural understanding.
The arts are known to have several benefits to individuals and to a considerably large extent the nation and the world. For example Arts in educational centers such as schools or colleges or community centers is known to improve the student`s critical thinking skills and problem-solving techniques. This has been established to improve the overall grade and school success and therefore by a considerable extension adequately preparing the student for the professional world out t...
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