Art Under Socialism?

[rocker935]

To start off with, I'm sorry if there is already another thread one this subject, I used the search button but couldn't find anything.

Alright, so I got into an argument with my friends. I said that I felt that capitalism is extremely harmful to the arts. There are plenty of indie-films and indie-music that gets completely ignored under capitalism. Record labels have turned music into a way to make money, not an art.

So they asked me, what do you think is better? And they already knew my answer, socialism.

So they said that under capitalism, the only music left would be music that is appreciated by the masses, like that shitty crunk rap music. They said music like punk wouldn't be around because the masses don't like that kind of music.

So I didn't really know how to counter their argument effectively. If anyone has an argument or knows of a book, paper, or essay on the subject, please let me know.

[Spawn of Stalin]

In socialism shitty rap music wouldn't be appreciated by the masses, the only reason people appreciate it now is because capitalism forces it on people, on the radio, on TV, in magazines, everywhere. In a socialist society people will listen to the music they genuinely like, not the music they are told to like.

[Axle]

The only thing that would change in music in a socialist society is the elimination of those crappy bands the record company digs up and cashes in on some musical fad.

Rage Against the Machine was one of the first bands to fuse rock and rap, and somewhere in the mid-90s record companies decided THAT was the next big thing, so the world got crap like Limp Bizkit and a host of other mediocre bands. Sure they sold a ton of albums, but that's really only because they had gobs of media saturation, not because they recorded anything worth listening to.

[Stranger Than Paradise]

Well I think art would be to a better standard and that because each person will have a surplus of time to pursue their interests we will have more of it and more diverse forms of expression. Due to better education for all I think we would all be liberated to creatively express ourselves however we please.

[Luisrah]

Well I think art would be to a better standard and that because each person will have a surplus of time to pursue their interests we will have more of it and more diverse forms of expression. Due to better education for all I think we would all be liberated to creatively express ourselves however we please.

^ This

Plus, nowadays, living as a musician isn't easy. You need luck, lots of help, or super talent, or else you won't have enough money to continue to live in normal conditions.

Musical instruments (the good ones) aren't cheap. Talking about classical guitarists, a good guitar costs around 3000-5000 euros. But then there are masterclasses and worshops, and these things (the good ones) aren't usually close to where you live.
If you want to be successful (have your art apreciated and not living in poverty) you need to travel a lot and spend a lot of money.

Plus, composers only get a tiny percentage of each disk they sell (the company who makes the copies gets most of it)

So, I'd say that currently, art is only ''viable'' to the rich, atleast in the case I mentioned. Unless someone finds out that you've got lots of talent, you're screwed.

[Psy]

To start off with, I'm sorry if there is already another thread one this subject, I used the search button but couldn't find anything.

Art in a Communist society (http://www.revleft.com/vb/art-communist-society-t78626/index.html)

What would be the role of artists in a communist society? (http://www.revleft.com/vb/would-role-artists-t117602/index.html?t=117602)



Alright, so I got into an argument with my friends. I said that I felt that capitalism is extremely harmful to the arts. There are plenty of indie-films and indie-music that gets completely ignored under capitalism. Record labels have turned music into a way to make money, not an art.

So they asked me, what do you think is better? And they already knew my answer, socialism.

So they said that under capitalism, the only music left would be music that is appreciated by the masses, like that shitty crunk rap music. They said music like punk wouldn't be around because the masses don't like that kind of music.

So I didn't really know how to counter their argument effectively. If anyone has an argument or knows of a book, paper, or essay on the subject, please let me know.
Even the nationalized studios of Eastern Europe handled art much better despite getting little resources, you didn't just have the art aimed at lowest common denominator and other then during the Stalin era the studios were mostly free from influence from the state.

[New Tet]

Rage Against the Machine was one of the first bands to fuse rock and rap...

Sorry to put you on the spot here, but that just ain't so.
To my memory, one of the first to fuse rock with rap was Tina Weymouth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tina_Weymouth and the Tom Tom Club:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Tom_Club

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53V7lt7H6m8

[Axle]

Sorry to put you on the spot here, but that just ain't so.
To my memory, one of the first to fuse rock with rap was Tina Weymouth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tina_Weymouth and the Tom Tom Club:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Tom_Club

53V7lt7H6m8

Lol, fair enough.

But I'll still say that Rage was the band to bring rap/rock into the mainstream.

And the Anthrax/Public Enemy team-up for "Bring the Noise" was in there too (gotta try and save a little face here).

[ComradeOm]

In socialism shitty rap music wouldn't be appreciated by the masses, the only reason people appreciate it now is because capitalism forces it on people, on the radio, on TV, in magazines, everywhere. In a socialist society people will listen to the music they genuinely like, not the music they are told to like.In socialism elitist fools will not be able to tell people what they should be listening to

[Stranger Than Paradise]

Tina Weymouth

What a bassist Tina was

[Spawn of Stalin]

In socialism elitist fools will not be able to tell people what they should be listening to
Maybe I misinterpret you but I didn't tell anyone what they should listen to, if that is what you are accusing me of.

[The Feral Underclass]

Art questions belong in the art forum.