Friday, June 20, 2008
The Art(s) of Republicanism
Rheta Grimsley Johnson, the Southern newspaper columnist, is one of my favorite non-fiction writers. She almost always manages to hit whatever nail she is pounding squarely on the head.
One of the most memorable times she did that was several years ago when she penned a column that concluded that Republicans should simply stay away from art -- i.e., the National Endowment for the Arts -- because they have absolutely no affinity for it. They don't have the right genes to appreciate any art beyond the Sunday comics or rest room graffiti (this was before the Larry Craig episode).
They don't have the "feel" or the temperament to appreciate art, especially when their political and religious views get between them and Mozart or Monet or Eugene O'Neill. They become virtually inert in the presence of the works of Picasso, Ezra Pound, or Marlon Brando.
I think Rheta nailed the insensitive bastards right on the head. In case she left any doubt, here's the most recent collection of Republican arts awards (from the wire service in my head):
Best Painting -- "Dogs Playing Poker"
Best Artist -- Thomas Kinkaide
Best Movie Actor -- Keanu Reeves
Best Movie -- "The Ten Commandments" or anything with Julie Andrews in it
Best TV Actor -- David Caruso
Best TV Show -- "Deal or No Deal"
Best Song -- "Let the Eagle Soar" by John Ashcroft
Best Poet -- What's a poet? Oh, you mean like the guys at Hallmark?
(more to come)
One of the most memorable times she did that was several years ago when she penned a column that concluded that Republicans should simply stay away from art -- i.e., the National Endowment for the Arts -- because they have absolutely no affinity for it. They don't have the right genes to appreciate any art beyond the Sunday comics or rest room graffiti (this was before the Larry Craig episode).
They don't have the "feel" or the temperament to appreciate art, especially when their political and religious views get between them and Mozart or Monet or Eugene O'Neill. They become virtually inert in the presence of the works of Picasso, Ezra Pound, or Marlon Brando.
I think Rheta nailed the insensitive bastards right on the head. In case she left any doubt, here's the most recent collection of Republican arts awards (from the wire service in my head):
Best Painting -- "Dogs Playing Poker"
Best Artist -- Thomas Kinkaide
Best Movie Actor -- Keanu Reeves
Best Movie -- "The Ten Commandments" or anything with Julie Andrews in it
Best TV Actor -- David Caruso
Best TV Show -- "Deal or No Deal"
Best Song -- "Let the Eagle Soar" by John Ashcroft
Best Poet -- What's a poet? Oh, you mean like the guys at Hallmark?
(more to come)
