Democratic Art The New Deal's Influence on American Culture |
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| Author:
| Musher, Sharon Ann |
| ISBN: | 978-0-226-24718-2 |
| Publication Date: | May 2015 |
| Publisher: | University of Chicago Press
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| Book Format: | Hardback |
| List Price: | USD $48.00 |
Book Description:
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At its height in 1935, the New Deal devoted roughly $27 million ($320 million today) to supporting tens of thousands of needy writers, dancers, actors, musicians, and visual artists, who created over 100,000 works--books, murals, plays, concerts--that were performed for or otherwise imbibed by millions of Americans. But why did the government get so involved with the arts in the first place? Musher addresses this question and many others by exploring the political and aesthetic...
More DescriptionAt its height in 1935, the New Deal devoted roughly $27 million ($320 million today) to supporting tens of thousands of needy writers, dancers, actors, musicians, and visual artists, who created over 100,000 works--books, murals, plays, concerts--that were performed for or otherwise imbibed by millions of Americans. But why did the government get so involved with the arts in the first place? Musher addresses this question and many others by exploring the political and aesthetic concerns of the 1930s, as well as the range of responses--from politicians, intellectuals, artists, and taxpayers--to the idea of active government involvement in the arts. In the process, she raises vital questions about the roles that the arts should play in contemporary society.