The arts in Aotearoa New Zealand

"... A comprehensive overview of the country's artistic culture, past and present, Maori and Pakeha, male and female, high and popular. More importantly, it provides a sociological framework for the analysis of the production, distribution and consumption of the arts within their broader economic political, social and cultural contexts. Its main themes are the tension between art and commerce, the nationalist/internationalist deate and the contribution made by art to gender, ethnic, class and community identity. A host of other topical issues are also covered including the politics of the Arts Council, the funding of public service broadcasting, and the fraught relationships between artists and critics. This book is an ideal text for teaching and learning about New Zealand art and society. Its analytical categories, factual summaries and conceptual clarifications will assist readers and policy makers, while its accessible style makes it entertaining reading for anybody with a general interest in its concluding words "The arts are not a dispensible frill. They lie at the very heart of the human condition"." -- Back cover.