RE THE ARTS

Art is another strictly personal matter, between the artist and his or her audience; and no one else should ever intrude.  Art is therefore another subject that should not be touched or tampered with in any way, by any governmental entity of any kind--whether to foster it, direct it, limit it, or forbid it.

An exception--whereby the governing entity might become involved in art or with artists, would be the impartial or random granting of monetary support or sponsorship to practitioners or performers in various fields of art--who would nevertheless be free to independently pursue their endeavors, without direction or restraint.  Another could be the engagement of artists by a governing entity to produce things for use by or on behalf of the public (such as a building, a painting, a statue, or a musical piece for a public ceremony).  Yet another form of permitted government involvement might be the prohibition of works or performances that were objectively revolting or obscene, or clearly harmful to any person, p;lace, or thing.

The primary rationale of the aforesaid is to stress that, other than in cases involving exceptions such as these, the arts, and the people who practice and pjursue them, should not be interfered with, nor sought to be influenced in any way. 

                                                                   * * * * *

As individual civilizations and cultures developed, often independently, so too did forms and styles of art spring up which were likewise frequently unique.  These should continue to so thrive and evolve independently as time goes on; taking influence and borrowing from one another to be sure (as they do today), but nevertheless yet retaining their own unique or distinctive characteristics.

Perhaps one day, one or more fields of art will likewise evolve into single universal forms or styles of their own.  Perhaps not.  The answer is irrelevant.  For it is not my purpose to recommend any sort of unity concerning artistic endeavors.  To paraphrase a statement I made a couple of times in the past, no one ever fought an armed battle over the colors in a painting, or the shape of a statue.  These kinds of differences in fact make life interesting--and actually promote regard and respect for one's fellow man.  For in noting the differences, the intelligent observer simultaneously grasps the many ways in which we bear resemblance to one another as well.  And this, in turn, breeds understanding and brotherhood, among cultures--and, hopefully, eventually among all of mankind, around the world.

                                                                     * * * * *