Well said, Olivia. As an artist myself, I don't plan on giving up any ground to him. Fellow composers and I have discussed exactly what you're talking about here, and the fact that we may, indeed, be using our art as a means of protest.
I don't know what that will look like, but I will do whatever I can. We must resist. We must stand firm. We must overcome.
Thank you for writing about this. There is a lot going on right now, but destroying artistic expression is one of the dangers of an autocratic government.
This is really worth thinking about. Here's one example: when Trump yowled that SNL wasn't funny & should be removed from the air (back when Alec Baldwin did his spot-on impressions of him, which I found hilarious). My reaction at the time was that Trump simply has no sense of humor, & is thin-skinned, can't take a joke at his own expense. All of which is true, but.... he is also extremely "transactional," meaning he will grab & "use" anything & everything that he thinks will further his agenda in some way, and will reject anything & everything that does not.
Let's face it, anything that even hints of liberal thought is in danger with this miscreant. He hates this stuff dating back to when the cultural elite of NYC ostracized him and rightfully so. He's simply rude, crude, and socially unacceptable. Naturally anything of opera, theatre, music (not country or grunge), art, literature, or academia is a perceived enemy for him. NEA, NEH, NSF, etc are all blacklisted. I received two large grants from NEH over two decades ago for research and publication on the Missouri River and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Trump would have said "So what? Who cares?"
Thanks for the historic comparisons of trump to other grotesque dictators. What the orange Mussolini did find artful was a portrait of himself painted by an artist that he purchased for about $25,000 using money from his fraudulent foundation. Soon he will declare the name of God Bless America to God Bless trump, The National Anthem will be decreed the trump anthem. The Kennedy Center will be renamed the trump center. The Mona Lisa will be called the Mona Ivanka. Mount Rushmore will be renamed mount trump. All works by Dali will be banned from US because trump can't understand what they mean. Once the crazy starts, it hard to put back in the tube...
The comedians are next. This is also part of the Hitler/Stalin pattern. Trump is especially without humor and I marvel at Kimmel and others who continue to use him as a subject. When will the networks fold and cancel shows? Be aware here too.
As a former exec of the Kennedy Center, I can tell you that the stages are booked up to two years in advance to get the great orchestras and performers. Getting out of those contracts will be another law suit fiesta. May the artists stand firm. This implicates every other cultural institution in the land, and hugely impacts the economy of a city. Bringing down the arts also brings down restaurants, hotels, tourism, and so forth.
And... someone may have already noted this -- but last Thurs artists who applied for NEA funding recieved an email that they will need to re work their applications for 2026 and priority will be placed on those who create projects celebrating the Declaration of Independence. This is obvs authoritarianism at work and a wish to control funding, artwork and over curate with nationalism in mind. The smaller orgs might survive if they don't take the bait, but giant institutions that have large funding from the NEA will have a harder time saying "No Thank You"
Thank you Olivia, for shining a light on this most important topic. It sickens me and disgusts me to my core. Trump is just like every other dictator in history. Everywhere you look historically, the only art allowed under these regimes is to glorify them. This talk of putting his mug on Mt. Rushmore is so degrading to the four presidents who are currently there, and should remain there alone. His face would sully the greatness of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt. It would be an abomination. We have to find a way to stop this madman.
As always, right on point. I've been impressed with you since you began speaking up shortly after leaving the first Trump mal-administration. Your courage is amazing!
Thanks for your detailed history of the Orange Menace’s relationship to the arts. I assumed he liked cartoon images, without words, and photos of male weightlifters.
Well said, Olivia. As an artist myself, I don't plan on giving up any ground to him. Fellow composers and I have discussed exactly what you're talking about here, and the fact that we may, indeed, be using our art as a means of protest.
I don't know what that will look like, but I will do whatever I can. We must resist. We must stand firm. We must overcome.
"Give me an F"......... "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die"
Thank you for writing about this. There is a lot going on right now, but destroying artistic expression is one of the dangers of an autocratic government.
Excellent article, thank you. I agree, supporting the arts, creating art and music is a key note in pushing back.
a "key note" -- I see what you did there :)
On the bright side, Shostakovich managed to write great music and not get killed. So there is hope. There is always hope.
How many others were imprisoned or killed?
Millions. I know.
This is really worth thinking about. Here's one example: when Trump yowled that SNL wasn't funny & should be removed from the air (back when Alec Baldwin did his spot-on impressions of him, which I found hilarious). My reaction at the time was that Trump simply has no sense of humor, & is thin-skinned, can't take a joke at his own expense. All of which is true, but.... he is also extremely "transactional," meaning he will grab & "use" anything & everything that he thinks will further his agenda in some way, and will reject anything & everything that does not.
Trump just fired Kennedy Center board member Jon Batiste, who sang the National Anthem at the Super Bowl on Sunday.
Yup! Trump didn't like Jon's treatment of the Anthem --- not enough nasal twange.
OMG 😨😨😨
Let's face it, anything that even hints of liberal thought is in danger with this miscreant. He hates this stuff dating back to when the cultural elite of NYC ostracized him and rightfully so. He's simply rude, crude, and socially unacceptable. Naturally anything of opera, theatre, music (not country or grunge), art, literature, or academia is a perceived enemy for him. NEA, NEH, NSF, etc are all blacklisted. I received two large grants from NEH over two decades ago for research and publication on the Missouri River and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Trump would have said "So what? Who cares?"
Musician, Author, Researcher, Geographer, Ecologist, Cartographer.
This is why my wife and I underwrite scholarships for young teams to compete in an annual film competition here In Seattle.
Thanks for the historic comparisons of trump to other grotesque dictators. What the orange Mussolini did find artful was a portrait of himself painted by an artist that he purchased for about $25,000 using money from his fraudulent foundation. Soon he will declare the name of God Bless America to God Bless trump, The National Anthem will be decreed the trump anthem. The Kennedy Center will be renamed the trump center. The Mona Lisa will be called the Mona Ivanka. Mount Rushmore will be renamed mount trump. All works by Dali will be banned from US because trump can't understand what they mean. Once the crazy starts, it hard to put back in the tube...
Parents long Buried -Navy Arlington National Cemetery—Would Be screaming from their gravesite-Stacked 🥰🥹😳🤯😵💫😵
Arlington National Golf Course and Condos. He'll say it's all wasted real-estate.
trump Gettysburg Resort and Spa may also appeal to mini Mussolini.
And we'll all be required to give the Trumpgruss, per Elon's example.
The comedians are next. This is also part of the Hitler/Stalin pattern. Trump is especially without humor and I marvel at Kimmel and others who continue to use him as a subject. When will the networks fold and cancel shows? Be aware here too.
As a former exec of the Kennedy Center, I can tell you that the stages are booked up to two years in advance to get the great orchestras and performers. Getting out of those contracts will be another law suit fiesta. May the artists stand firm. This implicates every other cultural institution in the land, and hugely impacts the economy of a city. Bringing down the arts also brings down restaurants, hotels, tourism, and so forth.
Wonderful, thoughtful advice! Thank you!
Once again, your article is fantastic. How appropriate that the Rolling Stone just published the 100 Greatest Protest Songs from musical artists: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-protest-songs-1235154848/
And... someone may have already noted this -- but last Thurs artists who applied for NEA funding recieved an email that they will need to re work their applications for 2026 and priority will be placed on those who create projects celebrating the Declaration of Independence. This is obvs authoritarianism at work and a wish to control funding, artwork and over curate with nationalism in mind. The smaller orgs might survive if they don't take the bait, but giant institutions that have large funding from the NEA will have a harder time saying "No Thank You"
Thank you Olivia, for shining a light on this most important topic. It sickens me and disgusts me to my core. Trump is just like every other dictator in history. Everywhere you look historically, the only art allowed under these regimes is to glorify them. This talk of putting his mug on Mt. Rushmore is so degrading to the four presidents who are currently there, and should remain there alone. His face would sully the greatness of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt. It would be an abomination. We have to find a way to stop this madman.
As always, right on point. I've been impressed with you since you began speaking up shortly after leaving the first Trump mal-administration. Your courage is amazing!
Thanks for your detailed history of the Orange Menace’s relationship to the arts. I assumed he liked cartoon images, without words, and photos of male weightlifters.