The new chief of the National Endowment for the Arts, fresh from comparing Barack Obama to Julius Caesar, informs us that tax dollars may soon fund rap music and graffiti art:
While he may think he’s gotten a bad rap, Mr. Landesman has no problem with bestowing funds on good rap. Near the start of our conversation, I asked him what new initiatives he was considering.
“There are new forms of music . . . and the NEA should be there. We should be reflecting the reality in our world these days, whether it’s hip-hop, or whatever. There’s a lot going on that the NEA traditionally has no comprehension about.”
“Do you think that hip-hop would be an appropriate area for NEA to fund?” I inquired.
“Absolutely. And mural painting and graffiti are art. There are popular aspects of all the arts that I think shouldn’t be ignored.”