Karen Finley is no stranger to the culture wars: A 1990 Supreme Court case – National Endowment for the Arts v. Finley – ruled that she and her fellow performance artists, the NEA Four, could have their grant money withheld from the federally funded arts program, though the artists’ freedom of expression could not be overturned or legislated.
Once again, the arts in the United States are under attack: The far right has infected all three branches of government and its ostensible separation of powers that relies on a system of checks and balances to function. The current dysfunction, the dangerous clowning around, the trolling on life and death issues and false accusations of “wasteful spending” while wastefully spending are not just a sideshow, they are the main event. As the world burns and the economy is in trouble, the mad obsession to dismantle the resources and guardrails related to not only all life but the arts, diversity, equity and inclusion impacts us all, no matter if you enjoy conceptual art or whether you care to take a stand on federally-funded projects and institutional grants.
“It’s a horrible time,” Finley told me when we spoke about her new book, Covid Vortex Anxiety Opera Kitty Kaleidoscope Disco,” a meditative/healing rant on pandemics past and present.
“I’m very concerned and the concern is that the arts are related to so many different aspects of funding. It connects to books and libraries, healthcare and education.” Indeed, our library systems are under attack. The healthcare system is itself in perilous health and universities and the public education system are in process of becoming shadows of themselves — institutions of white lies and systemic oppression instead of enlightenment. These are but some of the ways attacks on arts and culture show up in our day to day, while the song, and the cost of eggs, remains the same.
“Not like I would ever be at the Kennedy Center,” said Finley, “But it was great to have, it was a symbol.”
When the the existing board of the Kennedy Center, historically a non-partisan institution, was sent into disarray by executive order and the selection committee dispersed, among the big ideas of the new self-appointed chairman was to honor baseballer Babe Ruth (sports achievements are not in the purview of the center’s awards), Elvis, and the musical, Cats. No way around it: The Spectacle is gonna spectacle.
Full profile of Finley in this Sunday’s San Francisco Chronicle.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Book news, art, culture wars, Guy Debord, Karen Finley, NEA, performance art
Denise Sullivan 