The NEA Ruined Famous Artists

gruelin1 Says:

May 18, 2009 - Right, national healthcare in other countries is a disaster. Which is why virtually every other industrialized nation has it.

acidtrashy Says:

May 18, 2009 - Yeah but if you get seriously sick here in the UK you still better have private health insurance because the chances are you're dead before you get seen by a specialist. As to not being seriously sick, I think I'd rather pay for a doctors appointment than part with a 5th of my wage every month for a system that simply doesn't work.

Galt425 Says:

May 18, 2009 - So refreshing to finally see a well read person on youtube. Obviously you've read blackstone and the other historical sources that so clearly map out the tendency of power to conglomerate. "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely" is obviously nothing new for gruelin1. Yep every source of power/government in the world has a primeval drive to have -more- power and control so we'd all expect govt to picture a "need" for "control" of health care. Every single one. Glad you're posting

pitbull103 Says:

May 18, 2009 - Jesse Ventura was once asked how he would support the arts. He said, "If I like your painting, I'll buy it." Of course, the govt should not be involved in art or health care or many other things.

scythiconatron Says:

May 18, 2009 - I hear what you are saying. As in many situations, separating the success of the artist from the enjoyment and appreciation of the audience probably hurts the utility of art in general. I can't help but compare this to how corporations that produce products and services often lose the connection between their business and their customer's satisfaction when the market share becomes the primary drive.

TheRealElectroPig Says:

May 19, 2009 - Thanks for bringing up Warhol and the Amiga. Brings back a lot of fond memories from back when I had more hair and less flesh-tone. d=^) Actually, I still have two of them, manufactured in 1988...and they still work! q=^oSometimes marketing "doesn't" sell the best product...

Walabio Says:

May 21, 2009 - Point of fact:Artists do not have to fill grant-applications to do art. Artists can do art independently.The idea of NEA is to help starving artists so that they do not have to give up art. This is questionable use of governmental money. We can argue whether his is a net good or a waste of our money, but it does not stop artists from doing art.A much better idea is to have 1% of the money going to governmental construction to art so that governmental buildings are not eyesores.

tyrbolo Says:

May 28, 2009 - Well there is always the KLF to lead the way back to the common folk, since the art snobblersfind them less than willing to buy into the scheme.

resistanceunion Says:

May 29, 2009 - Ok but also every thing man made you see around you, was made by some artist. Many of revolutionary artists were basicly broke Van Gogh for instance. I would be glad to pay to help poor artists than paying my money for drug war or alcoholic treatment like I must do in my country.

CharlesLazaruz Says:

May 31, 2009 - I like to think My Art speaks for it self :)@ Penn let me know what you think :)

storytellerjack22 Says:

Jun 3, 2009 - Elitist Pricks, the tasty treat that can't be beat. I know that a cartoonist falls under the category of "artist," but that's so damn broad. An archetect could call himself an artist but he doesn't, because he's proud of his title. If you're not proud enough of your lowly title as a cartoonist, then try being an artist instead. Then you will be included in Penn's discussion about Artist's who are never able to reach greatness.

granulorhoek Says:

Jun 3, 2009 - Artists throughout history have had to seek patronage of one form or another. Why is it only the NEA is to blame for bad art? Madonna makes bad art and the public was her funded her. Some of Penn's arguments take on strange dimensions so that he can jive it with his GOVERNMENT BAD philosophy.

2bwithout Says:

Jun 3, 2009 - It is agreeable that artists and art should have more publicity however, it seems unpleasant that artists should have market pressures inflicted upon them just so that the public may be more well-informed about the arts. No man asks for "pressure." If the public cannot see the value of the arts, then the public does not deserve to know about art and the great artists of its time. An artist should have to create his product, not turn himself into one.

wetyewruyrtsutrdhjfg Says:

Jun 12, 2009 - Hey I'm a wannabe too.

bumpyjjeans Says:

Jul 11, 2009 - So sayeth the mainstream media Zionist errand boy mediocrity.

bumpyjjeans Says:

Jul 11, 2009 - Without the NEA all the funding left for artists comes from Zionist mainstream media corporations, who employ them to further their propaganda agendas.

midgetfarmers Says:

Aug 11, 2009 - any artist that is selling there shit to the church of money is not an artist make your art first and then sell it... if it don't sell oh well at least you made it.

BraveWomanCandy Says:

Sep 15, 2009 - To be an artist rather than a hobbyist you must hone you talent enough to inspire others to offer funds to see/own your works. It is not art to fill out a form, and it is theft to force people to pay for your hobby. Even if you call yourself an artist.

bamboosa Says:

Nov 6, 2009 - Penn, I'm new to computer, I'm 56, and I wonder if you actually know any "poor" people. I was a "prodigy artist" when I was a kid, I didn't really enjoy drawing that much, I just happened to be good at it. Anyway, I have witnessed "art" (a meaningless word) in all of it's forms, music, writing, etc. made by people incapable of paying rent or even panhandling. Their "work" made "professional" (socially acceptable) art look quite mundane in comparison. Insane and homeless "artists" - check it out

funboy7979 Says:

Dec 10, 2009 - Penn & Teller could easily be classified as performance artists, but instead of going for grants, got their big bucks Viacom TV contract and Vegas gig after hooking up with the Cato Institute corporate propaganda mill. Viacom is owned by radical Zionist Sumner Redstone, so even tho Penn describes himself as a militant atheist and libertarian, he cannot ever criticize Israel's apartheid/genocide of the Palestinians nor the billions in US welfare payments funding it.

BenU314159 Says:

Jan 19, 2010 - You might be getting a little overzealous here dude.First of all... you and penn are only disagreeing on what makes a "good" artist. He says a good artist is one that people have heard of, and one that generates interest in their own art. You don't really define "good". Really art is only important in respect to what viewers think about it... and if no one sees/cares about your painting, then are you really a "good" artist?Penn may not be Kant here, but he makes a good argument.

BenU314159 Says:

Jan 19, 2010 - I was saying that you and penn were arguing over the definition of "good". He defined good as art which impacted people. Art which you don't see can't impact you. You didn't provide a def, but perhaps it was something along the lines of "well drawn".Theoretically I suppose the NEA could generate mass interest, but in reality it does not. After I saw this video I looked up the Dali playboy pics and also looked at some of his art. I cannot even name a NEA artist.

pennsays Says:

Feb 24, 2010 - It's so crazy the amount of influential people Penn has known through the years.

karn33333 Says:

Mar 4, 2010 - thats ridiculous. just because they do a showtime show and vegas gigs doesn't make them radical zionist. thats like saying because matt groening makes the simpsons and there for is a republican and can never say anything bad about bush jr because they are paid by box i mean fox network.

GenerationB0RED Says:

Mar 21, 2010 - Wouldn't the same logic have to hold true for the art form of music? What's the explanation for the lack of quality artists (subjective, I know, but when the only person who seems to be putting any thought into anything in popular music is a girl who watched the movie Party Monster one to many times...there's a problem) who are famous in the privately run music world? I suppose you can blame that on file sharing.