Culture and Democracy

"In this book, nationally prominent scholars, artists, and arts administrators provide differing perspectives on contemporary issues in national cultural policy. Triggered by recent controversies surrounding projects funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Culture and Democracy explores the philosophical questions concerning the role of publicly subsidized culture in a democratic society." "Among the questions the contributors examine, the following are central: Is publicly subsidized culture legitimate in our, or any, society? What are the appropriate components of a national cultural policy? How does U.S. cultural policy compare with that of other countries? What is the relationship of artistic creativity and public accountability? What do current disputes reveal about contemporary U.S. culture and society? In their discussions of one or more of these questions, the authors offer perspectives on governmental support for the arts and humanities that both elucidate and enrich current public dialogue." "Culture and Democracy is of value not only to artists and general readers but also to public-policymakers and to students of law, economics, sociology, political science, history, philosophy, American studies, comparative studies, and literature. It holds a special interest for scholars and students in the emerging field of public arts policy and for philosophers investigating new domains in "applied ethics.""--BOOK JACKET.