The Art in Politics
It’s done. We have now elected our 44th president. And while it is a moot point, I thought it would be good to review what Obama has in store for art and arts education in America compared to what we could have gotten had McCain been elected.
I performed 2 Google searches: “barack obama policy arts”; and “john mccain policy arts”. The first bits of interesting information are the search results themselves. For Obama, the top result on page one linked to a PDF on the barackobama.com website. The PDF was the official Obama/Biden policy on art and arts education.
McCain? Well, McCain’s own website did not show up until page 3 of the Google results, and that search result linked to McCain’s energy policy, nothing to do with art. The first result for McCain’s arts policies was a link to a PDF on the Arts Action Fund website: a non-profit that aims to ensure that arts-friendly policies are adopted at all levels of government. This document appeared to be the authentic McCain arts education policy, and that is where we will start.
In this document, McCain cobbled together a 1 paragraph McStatement consisting of 103 words that is so elementary it reads as if Sarah Palin authored it. The opening sentence, for example, reads:
“John McCain believes that arts education can play a vital role fostering creativity and expression.”
…. silence ……. blank stare ……. crickets …..
Wow. How bold. John thinks that educating children in the arts can “play a vital role in fostering creativity.” I wonder how he came to such a daring conclusion? Perhaps, he read the dictionary definition of the word “art”:
“The concious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects.”
Saying that arts education can foster creativity is like saying that going to school can foster learning, or going to trial can foster a verdict. In other words, he said nothing.
The next 2 sentences in the 4 sentence powerhouse of a doctrine is where true enlightenment lives. It reads:
“He is a strong believer in empowering local school districts to establish priorities based on the needs of local schools and school districts. Schools receiving federal funds for education must be held accountable for providing a quality education in basic subjects critical to ensuring students are prepared to compete and succeed in the global economy.”
So, John, are you saying that school districts have no priorities? Or, the wrong ones? Are you threatening districts and their schools? Can you be a little more specific? Can you tell us what “quality education” means to you? Do you consider arts education to be part of the “basic subjects” you refer to? Can you give us any useful information? Apparently not because he ends with:
“Where these local priorities allow, he believes investing in arts education can play a role in nurturing the creativity of expression so vital to the health of our cultural life and providing a means of creative expression for young people.”
That is it. Take these three quotes I have posted, string them together, and you have the entirety of the McCain arts education policy. This “policy” is so woefully incomplete and ambiguous it is hard to think that this is anything other than an intentional sidestep by an uninterested and under-educated man trying NOT to say what he truly believes, “Art is not worth my time.”
Of course, I could be wrong.
Obama, on the other hand, demonstrates through his 854-word arts education policy that he has a much deeper and well-rounded understanding of art, arts education, and it’s importance in the world. Obama starts with:
“Our nation’s creativity has filled the world’s libraries, museums, recital halls, movie houses, and marketplaces with works of genius. The arts embody the American spirit of self-definition.”
These two statements say a great deal. What stands out to me is that is shows a deep appreciation and respect for art by including artists (”our nation’s creativity”) as valuable resources (”works of genius”), and by explicitly associating art with the very ideas that helped forge our country: “The American spirit of self-definition.”
Further reading of this document shows us that he recognizes that arts education is instrumental to the innovative ideas that will help us stay competative in a global economy. He goes as far as to say:
“the arts should be a central part of effective teaching and learning.”
Beyond saying pretty things about art, Obama gives us an outline of what he wants to do. It includes topics such as:
- Expand Public/Private Partnerships Between Schools and Arts Organizations
- Create an Artist Corps trained to work in low income schools and communities
- Publicly Champion the Importance of Arts Education…. because studies show that arts education raises test scores in other subject areas
- Support Increased Funding for the NEA
- Ensure Tax Fairness for Artists
It would appear that the Obama administration, at least on paper, not only supports the arts, they also understand the power of art and intend on incorporating art and artists as a key component in making our world a better place. Of course, only time will tell if this is just lip service or where the money will come from to implement these ideas, but, right now, I am feeling hopeful about the future of art in America.
Tags: Art, Arts Education, Politics
