Politics and Religion and the Arts (Y'know, the Little Things)

It's linky time!

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I used to have at least a grudging admiration for Sarah Palin. I thought she was occasionally interesting, and might have some worthwhile things to say. Not anymore.

Sarah Palin trashes the National Endowment for the Arts - stating that NPR, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, etc... are all 'frivolous', shouldn't be funded by the government, and, if she has her way, will be headed for the chopping block.  Sarah Palin, you are dead to me (in a metaphorical sense, since I have never met her and now hope I never will). In the words of a PhD student at my school: " We are entering an conceptual age that will be dependent on adaptability and innovation to remain a dominant force of industry. How are the next Apple or the next Google going to thrive without an understanding of design, storytelling or empathy? Art is not a luxury but an essential part of life and the human experience." (Dierdre McLaughlin, FB) 


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If you have much interaction with the Arts (thanks to the NEA, *phplggbt*), you're probably aware that the Tony Awards, the ones that deal with 'excellence' in American theatre, were broadcast a week ago. If you're reading this blog, you're probably also aware that I'm Mormon. It was a matter of some interest, therefore, when "The Book of Mormon" musical won all kinds of awards last week. Best musical, Best Score, Best Book, among others - and lots and lots of my friends from back home have been raving about how funny and terrific it is. Here's the thing:


When did it become OK to mock a mainstream religious organization, particularly when most of your "research" and "documentation" turns out to be completely false? Cheap jokes are still cheap, even when they're cleverly written or set to a catchy tune. Here's a collection of responses from a range of writers and University educators. This article talks about the potential cultural embarrassment the musical could provide, likening it to the bigoted minstrel shows of the previous century (and the article was written by a non-Mormon). Here is one of the the full columns briefly referred to in the Deseret News piece, and it deals with how to respond when being egregiously ('gently') mocked and condescended to. (Excellent advice.)

And with at least a small nod to my previous post, I say: as the show is also being noted as the 'filthiest' in Broadway history (I believe I read there were at least 49 major obscenities just in the script) I wouldn't see the show even if it weren't about my religion. I don't care how 'clever' it is - if you can't find a more interesting way to be funny than to resort to crass 'humor' repeatedly, how clever can you really be?

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I respect people's right to create Art. "The Book of Mormon" Musical is not art: it's a flashy minstrel show with catchy tunes and lucky timing. I doubt that it will have any legs. That's not important, though - what is important is that we keep telling stories and talking about the stories and about the telling and about finding new ways to do the telling and the talking. The BofM Musical's time is limited - Art is here to stay. And anyone aiming for high public office who cannot acknowledge that fact is an idiot.

As a bonus article, here's one about an experience with material-free live art. It's very interesting, full of intriguing ideas - and I'm not a person who's usually intrigued by experiential live art!

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I will now go back to learning how to be a 'blessing to society' through my choice of profession. (I can take advice.)