Obama's Presidency and the Arts: A New Deal for Culture?

The article discusses the political and economic shifts in the United States with the arrival of the Obama administration, focusing on the potential for a renewed federal commitment to the arts. It criticizes the neoconservative policies of Reagan and the Bushes, which neglected public infrastructure and defunded the arts through culture wars targeting works like Andres Serrano's 'Piss Christ,' Chris Ofili's 'Madonna,' Karen Finley's performances, and Robert Mapplethorpe's 'Perfect Moment.' The 2008 financial crisis, exemplified by Bernard Madoff's fraud and the collapse of banks like Citibank and Bank of America, led even Alan Greenspan to advocate for nationalization. Against this backdrop, Obama's campaign included an arts policy commission (which the author served on) that discussed restoring substantial arts funding, depoliticizing grants, reviving New Deal-style public commissions, and supporting institutions hit by the decline in private philanthropy. The possibility of a cabinet-level culture ministry was raised. However, the author notes Obama's contradictory actions, such as inviting an openly homophobic pastor to his inauguration and opposing same-sex marriage, while Clinton had previously compromised on gay rights in the military. The article concludes with cautious optimism, quoting Dickens and referencing H. C. Westerman's drawing 'A Country Gone Berserk.'