In today's New York Times there's a wonderful article about how the French (both the right and left) are appalled at their new president whose cultural affinities run decidedly low-brow. How refreshing to have a country up in arms about the boob they elected to their presidency. Meanwhile back in this lovely country, politicians have to pretend to be as regular as joe six-pack. What a fucked up country this is!
On Sarkozy:
Mr. Sarkozy’s taste is said to be for Lionel Ritchie and Celine Dion. (Mitterrand mulled over Dostoyevsky; de Gaulle consumed Chateaubriand.) The current president’s fondness for showbiz pals, his marriage to the Italian model-turned-singer Carla Bruni and the appointment of a culture minister, Christine Albanel, who is intelligent but widely regarded as weak among Mr. Sarkozy’s ministers, have combined to produce something of a culture shock.
Sounds like the complete waste of human breath we have had here for two terms. When will Americans ever understand that in the 21st Century it is crucial that we elect men/women who are BETTER than us in many ways. I want my doctor, lawyer, accountant; the authors I read, the artists I view; the baseball players I cheer for to all be brilliant.
Of course, Sarkozy's style is viewed as American:
“With his jeans, his rudeness, his crude language, no tie, he establishes a new iconography for France. Casualness translates into a more secular sort of leadership, which is why people who don’t like him here talk about the Americanization of France. For both the left and right this means anti-intellectual.”
http://www.nytimes.com/...
I am not so damned insecure that my political leaders have to eat the same food I eat or like the same culture I like.
I love the fact that many Frenchmen are ashamed at Sarkozy's lack of culure and cultivation. In this country of course, many of the founders were intellectuals and a cultivated elite. Why do you think Thomas Jefferson is so admired throughout the world? We eventually worked our way to the true dolts like Truman and Eisenhower who both hated Modern Art. President Kennedy though not high brow himself had Robert Frost at his inaugural address and invited the great abstract painter Mark Rothko to the White House. What so many people in this country don't understand is that if it wasn't for the Coltranes, Pollocks, Dylans, Gehrys, Pynchons, Morrisons, no one would give a shit about this country around the world and we would be more hated than ever. It's our HIGH culture and some high quality popular culture that makes the rest of the world respect Americans not McDonald's and not the war criminals we keep electing.
Back to the history lesson--LBJ started the National Endowment for the Arts; Nixon was a idiot but did little harm to the NEA. Reagan a complete vulgarian who loved the imbecilic western sculptures of Remington and the novels of Lamour. Bush the elder is perhaps the saddest of all--a man of high privilege completely clueless about culture. The only good thing I can say for him is that he liked Loretta Lynn--an American musical treasure.
Clinton I must say was a surprise. He was very curious about the arts. The Clinton's had sculpture shows on the White House grounds which featured such modern masters as deKooning (known for his paintings but also a fine sculptor).
By and large conservatives with money buy power boats and more mansions, liberals with money like to buy art and support culture. Howard Metzenbaum was a HUGE modern art collector. The one great mystery is Senator Obama--I have no idea about his cultural tastes except that in his stump speech he pleads for the teaching of art and music! That impresses me every time.
The only elitism that's ok in our country is the elitism of money. No one questions the multi-millionaire.
If you got money, you're NEVER suspect. How sad.