Arts at an Explosive Crossroads

Thanks for the insight provided by this article on the thoughts of some of the people behind our popular entertainment (Crossroads, by Geoff Boucher, Jan. 1).

“Law & Order” creator Dick Wolf offers advice to parents on the futility of setting standards by observing that the “worst parental step that can be taken under almost any set of circumstances” is to tell your child that they can’t do something (in this case, his daughter listening to 142 CDs with lyric warnings on them).

Later, he admonishes that “parents should be the ones that decide what their children see and watch.” Well, Mr. Wolf, which is it? Since you won’t be passing on these confused, conflicting standards to your daughter, perhaps she’ll learn what’s right and wrong from Eminem.

And to the clever little comment that “I’ve never seen a 30-inch Sony listed as a murder weapon,” shouldn’t someone in your line of work believe that the pen is mightier than the sword and that people’s attitudes are much more dangerous than any weapon? Maybe after Sen. Joseph Lieberman gets done “ruining” your business, and the Range Rovers are replaced by minivans, people like you will move on. Then some artists can take over who won’t be so infatuated with “edgy plots.”

JOHN LYON

Oak Park

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Dick Wolf blames politicians for grandstanding on media sex and violence--except in the case of teenage suicides, where he admits a causal link between television and reality. If Wolf needs more statistical linkages, they’re available. Here’s an example:

In a Canadian town in which TV was first introduced in 1973, a 160% increase in aggression, hitting, shoving and biting was documented in first- and second-grade students after exposure, with no change in behavior in children in two control communities (source: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/8t9/8t9030.html).

Perhaps Wolf would say this increase in violence was only a coincidence or a fluke. Perhaps he’d say television causes only teenage suicides, not hitting, shoving or biting. Except in Canadian towns, apparently, where television may cause teenage suicides as well as hitting, shoving and biting.

In his next interview, maybe Wolf can explain why teenagers would emulate televised suicides, by his own admission, but not any other form of violence. Or maybe he can develop a new theory of behavior, since his old theory is illogical and contradicts the evidence.

ROB SCHMIDT

Culver City

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I was particularly struck by record producer Rick Rubin’s interjection of the word “art” in the piece about license in entertainment. What he proffers is not art but merchandise.

It is interesting that those who show no discretion in the commission of an act of commerce, then, in the face of complaints, fall back on “it doesn’t have any influence” as a defense. Art does have a transformative value. Words have such value, as well.

RICHARD P. McDONOUGH

Irvine

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I found myself agreeing with Dick Wolf and Rick Rubin regarding the cravenness of politicians. Blaming the entertainment industry for youth violence is patently ridiculous. However, toward the end of the interview, Wolf shows himself to be as craven as the politicians he criticizes. How? Why, he blames handguns and the National Rifle Assn., of course.

Let me clue in you guys. It ain’t the violent movies. It ain’t the rap music. And it ain’t the guns or the NRA. It’s the lack of values in the criminals, stupid.

BILL CARROLL

Newhall

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The grotesquely bizarre interview with Al Nodal, outgoing Los Angeles City Cultural Affairs Department director, speaks volumes about the naivete of Oscar Garza (Crossroads, Jan. 2). How Garza could even dignify Nodal, a leader of reverse discrimination and champion of mediocrity, is astonishing to me.

As past president of the San Fernando Valley Arts Council and publisher of the Valley Arts Directory, I know that Nodal and his mediocre minions did virtually nothing to nurture and augment traditional fine arts for the Valley region. In fact, his narrow-minded decisions produced wasteful and improvident outcomes such as the Madrid theater and incompetent Regional Arts Councils.

As a student of community education, I encourage Garza and Nodal to take a class in Community Education 101. This would help them understand and appreciate the meaning and significance of European cultural heritage and its positive impact on our diverse Los Angeles fine arts community.

Finally, I question the merit of using public funds for ethnically biased and discriminatory ventures. There would be hell to pay if our public schools decided to fund Yucatan Indian gong-playing instead of John Phillip Sousa music for school bands. Why hasn’t our “Rip Van Winkle” City Council demanded a meaningful, objective assessment of the Cultural Affairs Department during the past 10 years? Apparently the concept of accountability for results continues to elude our term-limited guardians of the public trust.

JERRY DOMINE

Winnetka

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One of the subjects raised was, I felt, unfortunately glossed over--when in fact it should be the focus of a major, nationwide dialogue between granting organizations and arts groups.

When Garza asked Nodal about Cultural Affairs Department policies regarding artists and groups who do not do “outreach” or social services work as part of their programming--and you will forgive me for saying that I feel that words and phrases such as “resistance” and “art for art’s sake” polarize the discussion--he allowed him to skate by with what was really a ridiculous answer.

The truth is that if you are an arts group in Los Angeles that does programming based solely on artistic choices, you cannot get funding from Cultural Affairs. This leads back to one of the key issues of arts in today’s America: Why do we not value the arts for the mirrors they hold up to society alone--instead of constantly expecting artists and arts groups to attach “worthy projects” to their work? All over the rest of world, cultures value and even deify artists, simply because they are interpreting our world and our societies in a provocative and stimulating way.

As you might have guessed, I am attached to an arts group that faces this challenge as we seek funding each year. I would love to participate in a forum with other arts participants and funders in which this issue was addressed. Perhaps The Times would be interested in sponsoring such a forum?

JANIS HASHE

Los Angeles

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What would we ever do without the insightful guidance of the avant-garde intelligentsia?

“The worst thing is when there isn’t tension, when there’s politeness. Politeness is very dangerous,” according to Paul Holdengraber, director of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s Institute of Art and Cultures.

Perhaps it takes a 14-word job description to be so detached from common sense.

When I first read Holdengraber’s thumb-sucking babble I thought it was lifted from a “Saturday Night Live” spoof.

But no. This guy really doesn’t realize the emperor has no clothes.

MARK LANDSBAUM

Diamond Bar