The relationship between artists and the politically powerful has always been an uneasy one. Plato wanted poets kicked out of his ideal Republic because he felt they were immoral, but Genghis Khan valued them: He killed the aristocrats, rulers, and rich people in the towns he was sacking, but saved the artists, artisans, linguists, teachers and intellectuals, and put them to work in his Empire. Exiles or salaried Yes-men -- are these the choices?

# posted by Gerry Canavan @ 9:49 AM  |