The Decentralization of the Arts

Terry Teachout lives in New York, yet he understands (to some extent, as I don't believe a New Yorker ever really gets the extent of this phenomenon) that New York is no longer (if it ever really was) the center of the arts in America or the world. Certainly it was at one time the center of the hype of the arts in America, but in the long run, I really don't think that New York will be seen as all that significant.

People will realize that Clyfford Still and Mark Rothko really found their styles in San Francisco, that Warhol was useless, and so forth. As to music, it is a different story, but New York's role has been greatly inflated. While they had Corigliano, we had Lou Harrison. You can guess which one I think will be a footnote, only of interest to historical musicologists desperate for a new topic, once Amy Beach runs dry.

So, I have a lot to say about the decentralization of the arts. Lots.

However, I need to go to the Amtrak station to pick up some friends who are allegedly only an hour late.

You want liberal democracy? Fine, then you live with the late trains. They should be there in five minutes, but, oh no, you people need to vote on every friggin' measure and then you still whine about "they're takin' away our freedom!" So, the train is going to be an hour late. At least. I can't even trust the LiberalDemocracyTrak to report accurately on how late the train will be. Speaking of innacurate Liberal Democracies, why, oh why does the clock on my Ford gain something like 16 minutes every six months? Has relativism hit so hard that these 'tards can't even make an accurate clock? But I digress. I better bring a book. Probably a biography of the Duce. Bah!

Then, when I get a moment, between Lepanto League parties, I mean, serious and somber symposia, Italian Cultural Heritage Parades (black shirts optional), ushering at mass, going to a big barbecue, I might write a thing or two on decentralization in the arts, particularly in regards to the outstanding theater that is happening all over the country, but particularly in Sacramento (almost enough to make me miss the place), but, well, don't hold your breath. Instead, go read Teachout. Off to the station.