Art Funds
Regarding the federal government’s role in financing American artists and obscenity: Perhaps the government, which is “we the people,” shouldn’t be in the business of subsidizing art; but as long as Congress seems to think this is a worthwhile endeavor, I think Congress should let “we the people” decide for ourselves what we like.
The marketplace of ideas works well for literature and politics. Perhaps we should apply that standard to subsidized art.
A lot of citizens like homoerotic art, which is not the same as obscenity. A lot of taxpayers are gay and lesbian. Fifty thousand people viewed Robert Mapplethorpe’s work in Washington, D.C., recently. His artistic photographs command top dollar in the marketplace.
Although many are uncomfortable with homosexuality, we live in a pluralistic society and tolerance is better than bigotry.
MARSHAL A. PHILLIPS
Los Angeles
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