Vancouver Sun column by Douglas Todd on “Who Should Pay for the Arts?” involves McCloskey (3 September 2010)
Excerpt:
Despite recognizing the problems of an era when aristocrats and churches were responsible for most artistic expression, Deirdre McCloskey’s is one of the strongest voices today arguing that politically motivated governments should get out of subsidizing the arts.
Why? McCloskey, who is famous for her feisty economic opinions, says the main reason is that too many North American artists rely on government largesse to produce sophomoric “anti-capitalist” art.
McCloskey, who describes herself as a “gentle anarchist,” believes artists should “not bite the hand that feeds them.” Instead of mocking the bourgeoisie, McCloskey makes a good point that more artists should celebrate “bourgeois virtues,” such as respect and equality, and bourgeois people, such as grocery store managers.
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Column+should+arts/3480746/story.html#ixzz0yZTKMOvK
