Kurt Vonnegut Jr. on Robert Altman's 'Nashville' and American Culture

In a June 1975 Vogue essay, Kurt Vonnegut Jr. reflects on Robert Altman's film 'Nashville,' which he describes as a spiritual inventory of America. Vonnegut praises the film for its frank and honest portrayal of American culture, using country music as a model. He contrasts the film's depth with the superficiality of bicentennial celebrations, arguing that Altman's work reveals a culture disconnected from the planet and fellow humans. Vonnegut notes that the film's opening features a patriotic ballad, while its ending offers only the empty refrain 'It Don't Worry Me.' He highlights performances by Henry Gibson and Lily Tomlin, formerly of 'Laugh-In,' as profound. Vonnegut concludes that political and economic leaders lack understanding, passing responsibility to artists, especially filmmakers.