Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/11/01

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: REPRISE: Gummit Spending
From: Marc James Small <msmall@roanoke.infi.net>
Date: Sat, 01 Nov 1997 10:25:47 -0500

At 07:40 AM 11/1/97 +0100, Alf Bruell wrote:
>Your argument, that art should survive by itself (Roger) and not by stealing
>money (Marc) is pretty well said, but shortsighted. Because you define arts
>by $$. 
>
>Hence, no Mozart, no van Gogh, no ... 

Oh, no!  Your references prove my point.  Neither Mozart nor van Gogh ever
had one pfennig of government support.  Mozart's way was paid by wealthy
patrons (some of whom were on the government take, of course), and van Gogh
died a rather impoverished chap.  It was one of the embittering points of
Mozart's final years that he was unable to obtain a lucrative government post.

Mozart and van Gogh were successful WITHOUT "government support of the
arts" and I will go further to say that good art will always succeed, bad
art will always fail.  Now, there's an absolute you can chomp on for a
while, guys!

Definitions of art vary, Alf.  It would be wrong for me to steal your money
and to use it to pay for something which you find silly, tasteless or
offensive.  It is equally wrong for you to theft me of my goods and
possessions to do likewise.

Art clearly can support itself in the public marketplace, and that is where
it should seek its funding, not from my wallet, thank you!

Marc




msmall@roanoke.infi.net  FAX:  +540/343-7315
Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!