An article in this morning's Houston Chronicle discusses the special affinity many writers have for a president-elect who is himself an author.
Author Rick Moody (The Right Livelihoods, Back Bay Books, Aug. 2008)had this to say:
"…I think the larger issue is cultural. There's a trickle down from the top in the way art exists inside and outside of the culture as a whole. Here in the USA, you could feel in the Bush years how little regard there was for it. People who disliked art, literature, dance, fine arts, they had a lot of cover for this antipathy. There's reason to believe that we are in for a much better period."
Check out the link above to read the thoughts of illustrious authors Toni Morrison, Jane Smiley, Jonathan Safran Foer, and others. Then let us know, do you believe the country's leadership has an impact on the place of writers and literature in our culture? Or do you feel respect for the arts emanates from the family, the schools, or society in general?
Comments
But, since writers are readers, that's cool we're going to have a "Writer-in-Chief."
My only quibble with the article was Jane Smiley's description of "hack" speechwriters. Having written political speeches myself, the term reminds me of when people accuse popular fiction writers of "churning out" our books.
I missed my opportunity to go to college, so I have no more formal education than Joe Six Pack, who used to be the icon for ignorant slob but has recently been raised up as having some sort of zen folk wisdom. Obama's election is the triumph over the "anti-intellectualism" that tried to turn uneducated, salt-of-the-earth people against the evil Harvard grads, thinking that we-the-unwashed-masses don't know the difference between "achey breaky heart" and "tis a gift to be simple."
The craftsmanship of writers has greater market value in a culture that values art, literacy, and education. I think the IQ of Americans is on the rise. That's going to be good for the publishing industry.
And I've no doubt the nation's breweries will still survive.
Personally, I'll be satisfied if the economy recovers enough that people can afford to go out and spend money on books again. Lots and lots of books. :)
It had a good beat and you could dance to it. :)
As for Obama's impact on the arts, how can it be anything but good to have a leader who values the power of the written word to affect people's hearts? This might not translate directly into increased sales of our books, but I am hopeful (always hopeful) that it may signal at least a small-scale return to respect for those who love language and know how to use it well for all kinds of entertainment/information.
I guess enough soap box for now.