NEA Is Playing Politics, Filmmaker Charges

By Drew Nelles, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 27, 2009 11:38 AM CDT

(Newser) – The National Endowment for the Arts recently encouraged artists to create works that focus on “health care, energy and environment, safety and security, education, community renewal”—a disturbing step away from the its actual mandate, filmmaker Patrick Courrielche writes for Big Hollywood. “Artists shouldn’t be used as tools of the state to help create a climate amenable to their positions,” he says.

The NEA, the nation’s largest funder of the arts, was founded in 1965 to support artistic excellence. Now, it’s “attempting to direct imagery, songs, films, and literature that could create the illusion of a national consensus,” Courrielche writes. And even the NEA knows that this is sketchy: bear “with us as we learn the language so that we can speak to each other safely,” it said to artists during a private conference call.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Will.I.Am, of the Black Eyed Peas, left,and lead singer Ed Kowalczyk of the band Live perform before a Barack Obama campaign event on Independence Mall in Philadelphia, Friday, April 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

A supporter holds a poster of Barack Obama at a whistle stop in Downingtown, Pa., Saturday, April 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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The making of a machine appeared to be in its infancy, initiated by the NEA, to corral artists to address specific issues. A machine that the NEA helped to create could potentially be wielded by the state to push policy.
- Patrick Courrielche

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COMMENTS

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Spudsy

Aug 27, 2009 11:47 AM CDT

I think that much conservative support for Isreal is only to appease Christian Right beliefs that only Isreal will protect their precious Christian holy sites in the mid-east. They still believe that the Jews will go to hell at death and, if you believe in that stuff, that is a much worse fate than any fate you foolishly think liberals have for Israel.

Spudsy

Aug 27, 2009 11:42 AM CDT

Actually, "encouraging" is far from "torture", as your side chose to use for eight years.

Caps

Aug 27, 2009 9:45 AM CDT

Did you know that LibertyMan, and Timinator2K are the same person. Both full of B. S.

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art • National Endowment for the Arts • mandates • consensus • artists

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