Hi Mark!
I think it's a similar situation in China. All publishing is state
controlled there.
Another sensible presentation of the pros and cons of funded Culture, thanks
for that.
As an old fashioned libertarian I'm always left with the sense that the
interesting culture is the stuff that acts against, or at least outside of,
the government, I think that it's important to have a culture which stands
separate from the state and calls it to task.
I'm really deeply interested in this debate, partly as I'm trying to
articulate to myself why state funded culture makes me so bloody anxious! At
bottom, I think it's less to do with providing artists with publication --
we'd all need deep pockets and even deeper taxes to fund that! It's more to
do with how readers generate literature, how they drive what the culture
wants, what the culture is, what is possible within writing and reception,
and how writers respond to that.
I suppose at some level this is a political question, whether the state
should provide the solutions, and then why not provide them all, or whether
people should oppose the state, and indeed the nation. I'm certainly no
nationalist. I can't help thinking it's all rather sad when something isn't
working and the State chips in to keep it alive with someone somewhere,
probably filled with good intentions, says, "We need to keep this part of
the culture alive." A few months back someone at a party from the Arts
Council remarked that they were discussing where they could take literature
next, like that was their responsibility. I was total aghast.
Perhaps there's no clear answer to any of this, and it depends on
circumstances and the players. And especially the readers.
Best from me
C
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