Classical Values :: Ideology and creativity

March 18, 2009

Ideology and creativity

Reflecting on CPAC, Andrew Ian Dodge touches on one of my pet peeves, which is the stubborn inability of creative types to be allowed to think (and say) what they think without repercussions:

One thing that came up quite often in chatting with people outside my two "comfort" groups was the movement's dearth of musicians and writers, best crystallized after a fellow attendee described me as a "Ted Nugent conservative." In fact, at one reception I was asked point blank why the movement did not have many people from the entertainment world in its number. This was at least better put than the usual "all creative types are leftists" rants, which I hear often. The answer -- if you ask anyone outside the country/gospel music scene -- is quite simple: it's a matter of professional survival. There are many "closet" conservatives in the music business and even in Hollywood who don't dare out themselves for fear of curtailing their careers.

It's simply about whether your political beliefs are worth more than your livelihood. And it's not just the case in the performing arts. Publishing companies all over the world are full of "liberal arts" graduates who more often than not steer to the far left. Getting anything not "right-on" past them is damn near impossible, unless you are religious and wear it on your sleeve.

This is also true in journalism, academia, and even in many places in the business world. For some people, the "closet" even intrudes into personal and family matters; how many conservatives and rightish people felt obliged to censor themselves at parties and family reunions when Bush bashing was in full bloom?

This is not merely a matter of career and/or economic survival. In general, the left does a great job with shaming people. Non-leftists are systematically made to fear ostracism. If you're on the right to any degree (and have even the slightest tendency to be embarrassed by criticism), you will feel it. Whether it rises to the level of a career threat or not, no one likes being called evil, racist, sexist, or un-cool. Little wonder people join groups, and surround themselves with people who think alike. It's a form of self defense. However, it can be equally stultifying where it comes to being able to think and speak independently, because when groups form (especially groups based on coalition), the loudest voices dominate, and there's no shortage of people on the right who demand ideological correctness almost in imitation of the political correctness tyranny on the left.

Perhaps they're compensating for being beaten down, but this drives creative types nuts, and it's a major reason they remain more comfortable either going along with the left, or else just being proudly and smugly apolitical. I hang out with lots of creative people, and plenty will ridicule and condemn political correctness, and leftism in general. But if you talk about "conservatives," or "the right wing" and ugly stereotypes immediately come to mind. Much of this results from leftist stereotyping of the opposition, but some results from the simple fact that the most visible and outspoken rightists they're likely to encounter are, well, the most visible and outspoken. Like it or not, members of the WorldNetDaily Ann Coulter cheering squad brigades are not likely to win over free-thinking creative types -- no matter how disgusted they are with the stultifying forces of PC

It's tough to overcome that, which is why I'm delighted to see a resource like Pajamas Media and honored to help out when I can.

I like Dodge's conclusion:

So stop bemoaning the fact that there are not more creative types who are keen to be seen as conservatives. Start by supporting the ones you do know and help them with their careers. The left has managed to do so. Why oh why can't we?

Sometimes you have to start small.

It can begin with the recognition that there's nothing creative about political correctness.

posted by Eric on 03.18.09 at 10:50 AM

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Comments

Most leftists are quite eager to demean and humiliate other people. Then they insist that they are so good we should be happy to be ruled by them.

Brett · March 18, 2009 12:34 PM

Or maybe the leftists are so busy toeing the party line they have no time to evaluate the position they support.

Hugh · March 18, 2009 07:01 PM

I've argued in the past that a "red vs. blue" hot civil war is unlikely in the U.S. for this very reason. Access (or lack thereof) to firearms would be the least of our worries. If you don't even have the stomach to openly go against your friends and family politically today, you're even less likely to have it if/when doing so would put you on opposite sides of a shooting war. Granted, leftists surrounded by rightish folks would have the same dilemma, but leftists aren't the ones who would have cause to revolt.

Joshua · March 18, 2009 11:56 PM

I was an actor in NYC theater for almost decade then 9/11 came along; everything changed for me.

One day early 2002 during a rehearsal break I remarked to my peers that I supported the liberation of the Iraqi people. I grew up under the JFK way of Liberalism 'we shall bear any burden' with regard to defending freedom against tyranny.

After than remark I suddenly became 'a Bushie' and 'the lone Republican' among my peers even though I didn't vote for Bush and was a Republican; consequently I was ostracized from the professional network.

With that accusation I began reading about Conservatism, I wanted to find out what it was I was being accused of so my first read was Dr Sowell and from there I ended up listening to Rush Limbaugh in 2003. At the age of 40 I had finally opened my mind, so to speak.

I believe that so much of what drives the artistic world is not open-minded tolerance or creative expression but the desperate need to get into the Celebrity VIP club; the younger actors will get on their knees and suck whatever's cock if it means getting that invitation and the older actors know how to get the kiddies on their knees.

The artistic world is completely driven by groupthink; it literally is The Lives of Others. One can see how the artistic world is the first to impose Collectivist tyranny and how desperation to get into the Celebrity VIP room plays a big role in controlling the groupthink.

Around 2004 after my last off-off bway show closed I left the groupthink for good; screw that, my Liberty was more important to me than sucking the Collectivist Slavemasters cock becasue it offered me membership into the Celebrity VIP room.

I look at the today's young artist and see the Establishment yet they think of themselves as the anti-establishment; this is how absurd the established groupthink is, they're drones and don't even know it.

syn · March 19, 2009 08:13 AM

correction 'was NOT a Republican'

syn · March 19, 2009 08:15 AM

I don't think it is too much of a mystery. People are (generally) either creative or good at something else (ie, "smart"). Actors and other artists are generally stupid. It is more often the case that folks who are also creative do it as a hobby rather than as a career. Smart AND creative people look at odds of success and abandon the creative realm as a career option.

Not all people who make their living in the creative realm are that creative. They're good a replicating what others do, or are good at boob-bumping. They're very often lemmings. The true creative geniuses are rare and they are generally so focused on their passion that politics (or anything else) is an unwelcome distraction.

Mrs. du Toit · March 19, 2009 11:53 AM