I've been skeptical of the recent conservative push for STEM-only in higher education, and you point out exactly what bothers me about that. As a big fan of film, music (especially hip-hop, which has been unfairly demonized as a deep-state operation by our more conspiratorial friends), theater, and comedy, I'm just hungry for open-minded views in those vehicles, not the cancellation of the mediums. I do have to say, many comedians, like Rob Schneider, Jimmy Dore, Tyler Fischer, Adam Carolla, Joe Rogan, etc.,have stepped up during the COVID-era. Maybe they will lead the way for the other performing arts.
How do we get the devoutly religious to embrace art when museums and galleries revel in the disdain they have for questionable installations like the The Holy Virgin Mary, created by artist Chris Ofili, featuring a Black Virgin Mary on a glitter-like background, with pornographic magazine images collaged into the work. It is affixed to the canvas with hardened balls of elephant dung.
The painting was part of the "Sensation: Young British Artists from the Saatchi Collection" exhibition, which opened at the Brooklyn Museum in October 1999 and drew the ire of then Mayor Giuliani and most Catholics across NYC.
There was a lawsuit that the museum rightfully won but I know Catholics, including my mother, were very wary of investing time and money on places that they felt were disrespectful to religion.
Even my father, an extraordinary artist, had And I point this out as the daughter of an
Just got back from watching 5 plays in Stratford, Ontario. Most were amazing. Live theater is powerful. There are great Christian groups doing this. For example FPA in NYC. Beautiful versions of some CS Lewis classics. More and more of this is worth supporting
I was reading this aloud to my husband and when I got to the paragraph that ended with “Why can’t everyone be normal?” I started crying and had to stop reading.
The other night I needed a break and we went to an Oktoberfest thing. After eating, and listening to the one guy playing some German songs, I saw that every night OC the event was scheduled with random cover and tribute bands. I am so sick of there never being original music at community events and I said to my husband, “We’re not like other people.”
Then this morning after church, I was talking to the keyboardist about how we’re at war right now. The look on her face showed that the idea we’re in a cultural war had never crossed her mind.
My question is this: How do we get a large market of conservatives to support art that is counter to the mainstream if most ARTISTS don’t even get that we’re at war??
Artists and "Creatives" - heck, even real scientists and inventors who creatively look at the links in the natural world, we ALL toil in secret. Our discoveries and the art we build is all HIGHLY contingent on our personal failures, sorrows and triumphs. Even our character successes. So we NEED others like us for close bonds. In my opinion, the "5 in 1" rule applies. 5 are as strong as 1 fist. But life is isolating - especially today. How to we find each other and build trust and unselfish friendship together? I feel like alot of otherwise-would-be-successful artists, writers and scientists are screaming for this and can't find it and don't know how to build it. But if you're right, the situation at large is getting as desperate as we feel for ourselves. So, HOW?
SJ totally agree. It is so hard to find others that understand. It’s like the Marxists have this vast network setup and we’re wondering how do you even find the others who reject the Masonic handshakes? 🤝
I found this to be true during the events I hosted with CJ Hopkins and Hugo Fernandez. CJ read a thought-provoking essay from "Fear & Loathing in the New Normal Reich," and I read a few poems. The combination worked beautifully to spark both thoughts and feelings for the ensuing discussions.
Clifton, I could see you doing a live community performance that would unite people across the spectrum. Perhaps that’s "Becoming Thomas Sowell"—although I fear people on the left wouldn’t attend that. Another idea is a traveling one-act written for the specific purpose of depolarization (after you complete the Sowell project).
I've been skeptical of the recent conservative push for STEM-only in higher education, and you point out exactly what bothers me about that. As a big fan of film, music (especially hip-hop, which has been unfairly demonized as a deep-state operation by our more conspiratorial friends), theater, and comedy, I'm just hungry for open-minded views in those vehicles, not the cancellation of the mediums. I do have to say, many comedians, like Rob Schneider, Jimmy Dore, Tyler Fischer, Adam Carolla, Joe Rogan, etc.,have stepped up during the COVID-era. Maybe they will lead the way for the other performing arts.
Everything you say is true!
How do we get the devoutly religious to embrace art when museums and galleries revel in the disdain they have for questionable installations like the The Holy Virgin Mary, created by artist Chris Ofili, featuring a Black Virgin Mary on a glitter-like background, with pornographic magazine images collaged into the work. It is affixed to the canvas with hardened balls of elephant dung.
The painting was part of the "Sensation: Young British Artists from the Saatchi Collection" exhibition, which opened at the Brooklyn Museum in October 1999 and drew the ire of then Mayor Giuliani and most Catholics across NYC.
There was a lawsuit that the museum rightfully won but I know Catholics, including my mother, were very wary of investing time and money on places that they felt were disrespectful to religion.
Even my father, an extraordinary artist, had And I point this out as the daughter of an
Sorry - not quite sure how to edit but to continue the thought, my father had a hard time with the installation as well.
Just got back from watching 5 plays in Stratford, Ontario. Most were amazing. Live theater is powerful. There are great Christian groups doing this. For example FPA in NYC. Beautiful versions of some CS Lewis classics. More and more of this is worth supporting
Can you post links or list the names of some of these plays/tours? I haven’t seen anything like this in SoCal 😥
Fellowship
Of Performing Arts. Google it. They have their tour schedule up there
I was reading this aloud to my husband and when I got to the paragraph that ended with “Why can’t everyone be normal?” I started crying and had to stop reading.
The other night I needed a break and we went to an Oktoberfest thing. After eating, and listening to the one guy playing some German songs, I saw that every night OC the event was scheduled with random cover and tribute bands. I am so sick of there never being original music at community events and I said to my husband, “We’re not like other people.”
Then this morning after church, I was talking to the keyboardist about how we’re at war right now. The look on her face showed that the idea we’re in a cultural war had never crossed her mind.
My question is this: How do we get a large market of conservatives to support art that is counter to the mainstream if most ARTISTS don’t even get that we’re at war??
Dear Clifton,
Artists and "Creatives" - heck, even real scientists and inventors who creatively look at the links in the natural world, we ALL toil in secret. Our discoveries and the art we build is all HIGHLY contingent on our personal failures, sorrows and triumphs. Even our character successes. So we NEED others like us for close bonds. In my opinion, the "5 in 1" rule applies. 5 are as strong as 1 fist. But life is isolating - especially today. How to we find each other and build trust and unselfish friendship together? I feel like alot of otherwise-would-be-successful artists, writers and scientists are screaming for this and can't find it and don't know how to build it. But if you're right, the situation at large is getting as desperate as we feel for ourselves. So, HOW?
-SJ
SJ totally agree. It is so hard to find others that understand. It’s like the Marxists have this vast network setup and we’re wondering how do you even find the others who reject the Masonic handshakes? 🤝
I like the image, appropo.
I wonder if Clifton even has time to look at comments anymore? Maybe it's time to hire an assistant.
This is beautifully said
I found this to be true during the events I hosted with CJ Hopkins and Hugo Fernandez. CJ read a thought-provoking essay from "Fear & Loathing in the New Normal Reich," and I read a few poems. The combination worked beautifully to spark both thoughts and feelings for the ensuing discussions.
Clifton, I could see you doing a live community performance that would unite people across the spectrum. Perhaps that’s "Becoming Thomas Sowell"—although I fear people on the left wouldn’t attend that. Another idea is a traveling one-act written for the specific purpose of depolarization (after you complete the Sowell project).
You might want to read "Democrats Are Losing the Culture War" at the Liberal Patriot: https://www.liberalpatriot.com/p/democrats-are-losing-the-culture