Capitol Hill Blue Forums Misc. Topics Ain't This America What is distinctive about American art and letters

2wins, everything you have written could have been said about many decent Germans during the Nazi regime, but that does not change the fact that the Nazi state and society were evil.

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Getting back to the topic of the thread, I would never say that there is no aesthetic virtue at all in the inferior productions of American mass culture, but these worthy elements are swamped by the vastly greater amount of evil that is propagated by this "culture."

Plato had justification for wishing that inferior art be banished from his ideal Republic --- which was, of course, a metaphor for banishing it from the life and consciousness of the individual person.

Even if we do not go so far, it is wise to treat any art which is not worthy to be considered High Culture as a dangerous drug, which may serve some positive ends, but which should always be used with a keen consciousness of the evils which it may introduce into the purity of the soul.

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I have been re-reading, and thinking, and perhaps Numan has a point.

I see most of us spending our time on this site being critical of the world in general and the US in particular, and suggesting ways in which we think it could be improved.

But there is obviously a poster or two out there who has flown under my radar, and as a mod, that concerns me.

So before this conversations goes much further, I'd like to hear from that poster or posters - you know, the ones running around waving American flags, who believe the war against Iraq was in retaliation for an injury done to us by that country.

I want to hear from the poster who believes all our government officials are fairly elected and pure as the driven snow.

I want to know which of us think that what the starving people of the world need is another McDonald's.

I want to hear from the fool who says "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and "American Idol" are great gifts America gave to the world, and inform him or her that both those shows originated in Great Britain.

Who is it that is driving Numan to educate us all? Step up!

numan has offered a wholesale condemnation of the human race both here and on other threads. he is baiting and clearly enjoying the ride.

Yep, he certainly is a Master baiter.

(Think I'll blame that one on Naomi. )

The "purity of the soul"??? Well, damn, my soul must be fetid, putrid mess...because when all is said and done, just gimme some of that ol' time rock & roll!!! What could be more American than that!!!

funny how rock n roll seems to have become such a universal sound too. but alas, it must be our low culture appealing to the common masses, unawares of our insidious plan to infiltrate their minds with our garbage in hopes of lower the global common denominator.

Why stop at just banishing "inferior art"? Let's just banish "inferior people." That way, there will no longer be consumers of inferior art! Problem solved.

"I know, it's only rock 'n roll, but I like, like it, yes I do!"

Thank you. And the more I think about my choices and read this thread, I realize that, to me, an honest attempt at art, even Art, needs to present what the person perceives as truth and/or in some way pushes the envelope.

I'm not as highfallutin' as Numan.

You're really stretching for it there, aren't you?

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