[ironknee]

question for the conservatives...

do you care at all about the arts? meaning music, museums, plays, etc

to me music is VERY important to me as it's the soundtrack of my life... i have a collection of over 300 albums...

and the visual arts is my life's passion...

in my experience, conservative friends have little or no interest in it... they think it's a waste of time because you can't make money from it.

so is this just some of my friends or is it a general conservative world view?

if you do like the arts, what music, art, etc what do you like?

thanks

[Railroader]

Most people would consider me conservative, so I'll bite.

I have owned thousands of music albums in my life. I worked at a record store for a few years. I have also worked at an art dealer.

Personally, my current artistic outlet is photography. But I have also done watercolors, sculpture, and oil painting. I consider wood working, which I also do, an art form.

My wife and I have taken vacations into towns and neighborhoods that were artist driven.

We attend the theater, galleries, and other artistic events. We have books about artists on our coffee tables and book shelves.

I have a large number of friends who are conservatives who either work as designers or as photographers. No more or less than people I know who consider themselves liberal.

I guess your life experience is pretty limited if you have not met many conservatives friends who have no, or little, interest in the arts.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by ironknee 

in my experience, conservative friends have little or no interest in it... they think it's a waste of time because you can't make money from it.

That's sad.

Especially since there can be money made from arts

-t

[ironknee]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

Most people would consider me conservative, so I'll bite.

I have owned thousands of music albums in my life. I worked at a record store for a few years. I have also worked at an art dealer.

Personally, my current artistic outlet is photography. But I have also done watercolors, sculpture, and oil painting. I consider wood working, which I also do, an art form.

My wife and I have taken vacations into towns and neighborhoods that were artist driven.

We attend the theater, galleries, and other artistic events. We have books about artists on our coffee tables and book shelves.

I have a large number of friends who are conservatives who either work as designers or as photographers. No more or less than people I know who consider themselves liberal.

I guess your life experience is pretty limited if you have not met many conservatives friends who have no, or little, interest in the arts.

cool

what music do you love and what type of art/artist do you like

yeah, strange... most creative people i know are as--if not-- more liberal than i. but i am in nyc and that may be a factor

and the conservatives are mostly into business, sports, cars... also they don't care much about music...that is they can take or leave it and the idea of buying records/cd/itunes is strange to them... the idea is, radio is free so why buy it... seriously!

anyways can i call you a friend so i can say i know a conservative who does love the arts?

[ort888]

I think you're doing some major stereotyping here. Not everyone fits into your little preconceived molds.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by ironknee 

cool

what music do you love and what type of art/artist do you like

I like most types of music, I tend toward folksy rock. In my iTunes library I have everything from The Weepers [alt blue grass], Vienna Choir Boys, Counting Crows, Jennifer Knapp, Johnny Cash, Ice Cube ... even a Charlotte Church CD or two.

My visual artistry is more specific, I like realism and complexity. As for "famous" painters, I love Rembrandt, Da Vinci. I mostly tend to support local artists to the area I am living in. Currently I am in Indianapolis and am pretty impressed that there's more of an art scene than I expected.

Originally Posted by ironknee 

yeah, strange... most creative people i know are as--if not-- more liberal than i. but i am in nyc and that may be a factor

and the conservatives are mostly into business, sports, cars... also they don't care much about music...that is they can take or leave it and the idea of buying records/cd/itunes is strange to them... the idea is, radio is free so why buy it... seriously!

Here's my stereo-typing: Conservatives tend to be the people I know who buy their music, whereas liberal people I know tend to have more pirated music files. This is just my experience and I do not expect it to meet the national trends.

Originally Posted by ironknee 

anyways can i call you a friend so i can say i know a conservative who does love the arts?

Sure. Hello friend.

[shifuimam]

I find it weird that your conservative friends only care about making money. They sound like asswipes.

Being a conservative does not mean being greedy or money-obsessed.

My mom is a huge supporter of the arts and works for a symphony orchestra. I'm also a big supporter of the arts - music., performance, fine art, etc. I don't really like "modern" art, since most of it is just crap that has no meaning or general appeal whatsoever.

i think it's just the particular people you hang out with, personally.

[finboy]

Originally Posted by ironknee 

question for the conservatives...

do you care at all about the arts? meaning music, museums, plays, etc

I used to play music 4-5 nights a week, every week, for almost 15 years. In that time, nearly every musician I met was a conservative in the core of their life. Some of them may have used recreational drugs, or smoked (most), but core values such as hard work, family first, and the value of full discourse were the norm. Many of them had advanced degrees and varied other artistic interests, and more than a few had "day jobs" in a suit and tie. Some were successful entrepreneurs or retirees. But nearly all of them had a deep respect for individual rights and responsibility. They worked hard so they would have time to enjoy music and the arts in their spare time. The concept of "self-actualization" comes to mind when I think of these guys.

Edit: Also, the musicians I've known, as a group, spend a great deal of time taking the arts to others. Concerts at hospitals, schools, running clinics for high schoolers, etc. They're all about giving back & sharing & mentoring. The reason they can do that is because they have "conservative" day jobs or did have before they retired.

Personally, I can't live without my iPod. I have music playing every waking hour of the day if possible. Most of my "conservative" friends are the same, and they work very hard to support artists that they feel reflect their values. Music is the soundtrack of OUR lives too, and it means more (to me at least) because of the time I've spent identifying with it (the opporunity cost).

I don't see a dichotomy between being conservative and being in tune with the arts. Generally, serious understanding of music or art or literature requires some investment. If your "conservative" friends aren't artsy, it may be a function of where they are right now in their lives. Or it may be that you need to get out more.

[RAILhead]

I guess I'm mostly glad that I don't have to lump my friends into groups like "liberal" or "conservative."

[Shaddim]

Right now, I have >20,000 albums (LPs, CDs, SACDs, etc.). I buy just about anything, except pop country/rock.

Also, we give sizable donations to the local opera company and symphony. We're season ticket holders to both.

[Shaddim]

Originally Posted by RAILhead 

I guess I'm mostly glad that I don't have to lump my friends into groups like "liberal" or "conservative."

No kidding. Most of my friends think I'm rather liberal, but it isn't something we usually talk about.

[ebuddy]

I have a home recording studio for writing, playing, collaborating with others, mixing, and mastering our recorded music. My environment feels stale and I haven't done anything meaningful musically in probably about 1 full year, but I intend to change that.

My wife and I have gone to the symphony, the playhouse, numerous concerts as various acts come through town, and my wife and I have a music collection that'd make most radio stations blush. I like anything from Nickel Creek to Nickelback.

I appreciate functional art or visual arts such as nice pottery or even fine food prepared artfully (culinary). Crazy enough, it's why I appreciate Apple hardware.

[King Bob On The Cob]

The ONLY thing I have a problem with in the arts is the fact that an artist can get a grant from the government to make their artwork, then sell it for additional money to a private collector (Therefore, ensuring it will not be seen by the public), and not give a cent of it back to the government that helped the artist produce it.

Just seems kinda wrong that something created on the government's dime is not automatically public domain.

[andi*pandi]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

The Weepers [alt blue grass]

Hmm, interesting stuff! itunes only has one album, which is your favorite?

[ort888]

Originally Posted by finboy 

I used to play music 4-5 nights a week, every week, for almost 15 years. In that time, nearly every musician I met was a conservative in the core of their life. Some of them may have used recreational drugs, or smoked (most), but core values such as hard work, family first, and the value of full discourse were the norm. Many of them had advanced degrees and varied other artistic interests, and more than a few had "day jobs" in a suit and tie. Some were successful entrepreneurs or retirees. But nearly all of them had a deep respect for individual rights and responsibility. They worked hard so they would have time to enjoy music and the arts in their spare time. The concept of "self-actualization" comes to mind when I think of these guys.

Now you are doing it too. Working hard, families, and valuing discourse are not in contrast to liberalism. Same goes for individual rights and responsibility. Give me a break.

[finboy]

Originally Posted by ort888 

Now you are doing it too. Working hard, families, and valuing discourse are not in contrast to liberalism. Same goes for individual rights and responsibility. Give me a break.

Sorry if it sounded that way. I was just describing the values of the musicians I'd known in my life. Most of them were fairly conservative in their own lives, even though they may have worn their hair long and voted for Democrats and smoked a little wacky weed now and then.

I understand your frustration, I think. I have trouble with the general implication made here and elsewhere that conservatives only listen to music on Sundays in a pew and only patronize the arts when their kid is onstage -- that's been around for years, before the Intarweb, nothing new.

Final note: When I was growing up, the Democrats WERE the conservatives, and Republicans certainly didn't tell anyone that they felt that way.

[subego]

Three things...

1) Fine art as we know it today wouldn't exist if it wasn't for centuries of support from wealthy patrons, the majority of whom would probably map to conservatism in the current political landscape.

2) Creative types tend to gravitate towards Macs, so a Mac forum is going to have a higher concentration of creative types, regardless of political affiliation.

3) I'm conservative, and I'm a visual artist.

[ironknee]

one this for sure, we are all mac users and that's a good thing

i am glad to read all the people who love the arts. i am not making stereotypes, this thread is based on my experience with conservative friends... not all conservatives are like this but there are those who think like this... btw they are all windows users and bash macs as hippie computers

carry on

[Kerrigan]

Is it any surprise that current art, whose patrons are overwhelmingly liberal and whose creators are likewise liberal, is detested by conservatives? Conservatives simply have better things to do (like working to pay off your mortgage) than to spend their time contemplating a mannequin sitting on a toilet or a photo of a woman glued to a wall with flowers coming out of her hair.

Good art died a while ago, and this undoubtedly has something to do with conservative's decline in interest in it.

[ebuddy]

Originally Posted by Kerrigan 

Good art died a while ago, and this undoubtedly has something to do with conservative's decline in interest in it.

The only problem I've ever known conservatives to have for art is when their tax dollars are being used to help fund BS like "piss Christ". Other than this, I've known no difference between a liberals' and conservatives' appreciation for the arts.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by ironknee 

question for the conservatives...

do you care at all about the arts? meaning music, museums, plays, etc

to me music is VERY important to me as it's the soundtrack of my life... i have a collection of over 300 albums...

Well, I don't think it's Hillary or Nancy buying all those Ted Nugent albums.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by ebuddy 

The only problem I've ever known conservatives to have for art is when their tax dollars are being used to help fund BS like "piss Christ". Other than this, I've known no difference between a liberals' and conservatives' appreciation for the arts.

I've found that conservatives tend to appreciate the finer arts - the pieces which you can tell there's a lot of talent and work gone into. Old masters, etc..

Whereas libs tend to have a higher tolerance for BS art - the stuff which hasn't required any talent or effort other than coming up with a politically/socially subversive or suitably BS name for the piece. You know, like placing a lump of dog poop on a TV remote and calling it "BBC".

[ort888]

Guh...


This board is unbelievable.

[besson3c]

What point is there in trying to distill millions upon millions of people down to simplistic little generalizations you could teach to a toddler?

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

What point is there in trying to distill millions upon millions of people down to simplistic little generalizations you could teach to a toddler?

Contrary to popular belief, you are not a unique little snowflake. People tend to cluster into preference groups - you try finding vegetarian chicks who aren't into environmentalism, for example.

[SpaceMonkey]

Surprise: modern day conservatives tend to like old stuff ("what's the insurance value on that?"), and modern day liberals tend to have a higher tolerance for new stuff ("how can I incorporate this into my MFA thesis on the relationship between potato art and the dead political process?").

[ironknee]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

I've found that conservatives tend to appreciate the finer arts - the pieces which you can tell there's a lot of talent and work gone into. Old masters, etc..

exactly my point

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

Contrary to popular belief, you are not a unique little snowflake. People tend to cluster into preference groups - you try finding vegetarian chicks who aren't into environmentalism, for example.

Yeah, but there is making generalizations that are generally pretty clear and agreeable, and trying to sort of sledgehammer a generalization you want to think is true into a little box.

Generally speaking, it is nearly impossible to generalize all conservatives and liberals because there are simply too many of them, and whatever generalizations you can come up with would need to provide so many allowances and exceptions for the diveristy and differences that exist that they would be nearly pointless anyway.

[Dakar V]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

Generally speaking, it is nearly impossible to generalize

wat

[besson3c]

heheh... you caught me

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

Yeah, but there is making generalizations that are generally pretty clear and agreeable, and trying to sort of sledgehammer a generalization you want to think is true into a little box.

Generally speaking, it is nearly impossible to generalize all conservatives and liberals because there are simply too many of them, and whatever generalizations you can come up with would need to provide so many allowances and exceptions for the diveristy and differences that exist that they would be nearly pointless anyway.

Ummm, Bess... What you just wrote above is exactly how I'd expect all libs to reply.

I don't think you realise just how predictable groups of people are. Go ask a marketing executive or a political campaign manager if you don't believe me.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

Yeah, but there is making generalizations that are generally pretty clear and agreeable, and trying to sort of sledgehammer a generalization you want to think is true into a little box.

Generally speaking, it is nearly impossible to generalize all conservatives and liberals because there are simply too many of them, and whatever generalizations you can come up with would need to provide so many allowances and exceptions for the diveristy and differences that exist that they would be nearly pointless anyway.

By the same token, the "vegetarian environmentalist chicks" generalization would also be meaningless, because there are vegetarian chicks who aren't environmentalists — it's just hard to find because they're outliers. But hey, that's fully half of the generalization that we need to disclaim! OMG! In practice, this we still feel OK making the generalization, because it's true in a general sense.

Similarly, while conservatives and liberals won't necessarily agree on everything, there is an average that can pretty safely be called "conservatism" or "liberalism."

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

By the same token, the "vegetarian environmentalist chicks" generalization would also be meaningless, because there are vegetarian chicks who aren't environmentalists — it's just hard to find because they're outliers. But hey, that's fully half of the generalization that we need to disclaim! OMG! In practice, this we still feel OK making the generalization, because it's true in a general sense.

Similarly, while conservatives and liberals won't necessarily agree on everything, there is an average that can pretty safely be called "conservatism" or "liberalism."

I guess... I would just suggest that spending too much time on coming up with many of these generalizations is generally pointless (and I realize that this is another generalization

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

I guess... I would just suggest that spending too much time on coming up with many of these generalizations is generally pointless

No. 'Tis good marketing skillz. Every ad you see anywhere which doesn't make it into FAILBlog has had someone spending much time thinking about said generalisations.

[Jawbone54]

I have quite a few friends who are conservative and deeply involved in the arts (mostly music). For anyone who doesn't know, I'm probably considered heavily conservative by most people in here.

I've dabbled in music, lyricism, modern paintings, photography, drawing, poetry, and short stories. I don't consider myself particularly skilled, but being consistently involved in all of this is absolutely necessary for my sanity.

My book library at home consists of tons of poetry books (John Keats: all-time favorite), photography collections (Henri Cartier-Bresson was king), and literature of all kinds. Musical tastes are fairly eclectic. Besides the obvious Christian music stuff I listen to, I'm into alternative music, classical, big band, blues, pop, rock, and even a little country (NOT the Toby Keith style). - Last.fm profile

I've always fit in better with the artsy crowd, and even gained about 5x more liberal friends than conservative friends in college. I think there's a difference between people who appreciate the arts and people who are obsessed with them. Liberal artists tend to center their lives around the arts, and become extremely involved. Conservative artists aren't necessarily less talented or appreciative, but seem to be less likely to get heavily involved with the culture surrounding the arts.

[ironknee]

Originally Posted by Jawbone54 

I have quite a few friends who are conservative and deeply involved in the arts (mostly music). For anyone who doesn't know, I'm probably considered heavily conservative by most people in here.

I've dabbled in music, lyricism, modern paintings, photography, drawing, poetry, and short stories. I don't consider myself particularly skilled, but being consistently involved in all of this is absolutely necessary for my sanity.

My book library at home consists of tons of poetry books (John Keats: all-time favorite), photography collections (Henri Cartier-Bresson was king), and literature of all kinds. Musical tastes are fairly eclectic. Besides the obvious Christian music stuff I listen to, I'm into alternative music, classical, big band, blues, pop, rock, and even a little country (NOT the Toby Keith style). - Last.fm profile

I've always fit in better with the artsy crowd, and even gained about 5x more liberal friends than conservative friends in college. I think there's a difference between people who appreciate the arts and people who are obsessed with them. Liberal artists tend to center their lives around the arts, and become extremely involved. Conservative artists aren't necessarily less talented or appreciative, but seem to be less likely to get heavily involved with the culture surrounding the arts.

what kind of music?

[Chongo]

Originally Posted by ebuddy 

The only problem I've ever known conservatives to have for art is when their tax dollars are being used to help fund BS like "piss Christ". Other than this, I've known no difference between a liberals' and conservatives' appreciation for the arts.

Originally Posted by Doofy 

I've found that conservatives tend to appreciate the finer arts - the pieces which you can tell there's a lot of talent and work gone into. Old masters, etc..

Whereas libs tend to have a higher tolerance for BS art - the stuff which hasn't required any talent or effort other than coming up with a politically/socially subversive or suitably BS name for the piece. You know, like placing a lump of dog poop on a TV remote and calling it "BBC".

You forgot about the Dung Madonna

Where would you place Jackson Pollack?
No 5 by Polack

[subego]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

I've found that conservatives tend to...

Whereas libs tend to...

I can understand the implication of a causal connection between politics and a tolerance for BS, but when it comes to art appreciation, I'd say education is a much more important influence.

Of course, education is very political, so it isn't surprising there's a correlation, but that's not the direct causal link one can find with BS tolerance.

[subego]

Originally Posted by Chongo 

You forgot about the Dung Madonna

I was about to say this is redundant, but then I realized you're not talking about that Madonna.

[Jawbone54]

Originally Posted by ironknee 

what kind of music?

We had a mish-mash style. Kind of a mix of grunge, blues, and southern rock. Yes, it odd. We only played locally, but didn't last longer than about 14 months. The other guys lost interest. One got into golf and the other into graphic design. The drummer...well, you know drummers. I'd still be doing it today just for the outlet and fun if they were into it. I played bass at first, then became lead singer.

Let's just say I was no Doofy.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by subego 

I can understand the implication of a causal connection between politics and a tolerance for BS, but when it comes to art appreciation, I'd say education is a much more important influence.

Of course, education is very political, so it isn't surprising there's a correlation, but that's not the direct causal link one can find with BS tolerance.

I suppose the difference could be summed thus: While the conservative tends to appreciate the art for how it is (pretty picture, appealing form in that sculpture, etc.), the "educated" lib will perhaps be appreciating the art for what he thinks it says. Education could perhaps cause this effect since a certain style of education will create an individual who's always trying to read between the lines rather than simply looking at the reality in front of him*.

Maybe.

* Vote for change! Heh.

[ironknee]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

I suppose the difference could be summed thus: While the conservative tends to appreciate the art for how it is (pretty picture, appealing form in that sculpture, etc.), the "educated" lib will perhaps be appreciating the art for what he thinks it says. Education could perhaps cause this effect since a certain style of education will create an individual who's always trying to read between the lines rather than simply looking at the reality in front of him*.

Maybe.

* Vote for change! Heh.

that's good...

close

i would say... there are those who like art that are "as is"... as you say, pretty pictures, etc... like michaelangelo and da vinci... easy on the eyes...

and on the other side, there are those who like that also but prefer art that DOES reads between the lines... poetry is like this... not just the words but also the implications

[subego]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

I suppose the difference could be summed thus: While the conservative tends to appreciate the art for how it is (pretty picture, appealing form in that sculpture, etc.), the "educated" lib will perhaps be appreciating the art for what he thinks it says. Education could perhaps cause this effect since a certain style of education will create an individual who's always trying to read between the lines rather than simply looking at the reality in front of him*.

Maybe.

* Vote for change! Heh.

Well, IMO a "proper" education would teach you that a consideration of technique, or of the artist's intent, or of one's own subjective interpretation, are each context dependent tools, just like a gun or a rake.

While I won't go so far as to say that someone who finds a direct correlation between which tool they use the most and their politics are Doing It Wrong™, they're doing something.

[Chongo]

Originally Posted by subego 

Well, IMO a "proper" education would teach you that a consideration of technique, or of the artist's intent, or of one's own subjective interpretation, are each context dependent tools, just like a gun or a rake.

While I won't go so far as to say that someone who finds a direct correlation between which tool they use the most and their politics are Doing It Wrong™, they're doing something.

Maybe you can answer my question. Where would you place someone like Jackson Pollack? A lot of his work looks like the monkey/elephant paintings they sell at zoos around the world.

[CRASH HARDDRIVE]

Pollock= a guy who was in the right place, at the right time, where splattering paint all over a canvas actually had patronage. 99.999999999% of the rest of the entire human race doing exactly the same thing, would starve to death attempting to interest anyone else beyond being laughed at.

To me, Pollock's work is only interesting based on the celebrity of the artist, and his being at the right place to be noticed at all, not really the art itself. People that pretend to find some deep, underlying 'meaning' in it, beyond something that may accidentally happen to look striking, I think are kidding themselves.

This whole subject is interesting though.

Personally, I think it's a lot like the recent comedy and conservatives thread- the arts shouldn't have all that much to do with anyone's political beliefs. Also, the term 'the arts' is so broad, it's so impossible to even pin down. Would you likely find more 'conservatives' at the opera? More 'liberals' at a hip-hop concert? For every 'conservative' that thinks a velvet Elvis painting is 'fine art', there's a 'liberal' that thinks a mural full of cheesy imagery and puffy cartoon lettering and such is 'cultured'.

Seems to me no one can stake any claim to owning good taste, bad taste, refined culture or cheeseball 'pop' culture, or even an appreciation and support of 'the arts' (which is really so broad it almost defies definition) based on political views, unless they're just imagining it.

[ironknee]

Originally Posted by CRASH HARDDRIVE 

Pollock= a guy who was in the right place, at the right time, where splattering paint all over a canvas actually had patronage. 99.999999999% of the rest of the entire human race doing exactly the same thing, would starve to death attempting to interest anyone else beyond being laughed at.

To me, Pollock's work is only interesting based on the celebrity of the artist, and his being at the right place to be noticed at all, not really the art itself. People that pretend to find some deep, underlying 'meaning' in it, beyond something that may accidentally happen to look striking, I think are kidding themselves.

This whole subject is interesting though.

Personally, I think it's a lot like the recent comedy and conservatives thread- the arts shouldn't have all that much to do with anyone's political beliefs. Also, the term 'the arts' is so broad, it's so impossible to even pin down. Would you likely find more 'conservatives' at the opera? More 'liberals' at a hip-hop concert? For every 'conservative' that thinks a velvet Elvis painting is 'fine art', there's a 'liberal' that thinks a mural full of cheesy imagery and puffy cartoon lettering and such is 'cultured'.

Seems to me no one can stake any claim to owning good taste, bad taste, refined culture or cheeseball 'pop' culture, or even an appreciation and support of 'the arts' (which is really so broad it almost defies definition) based on political views, unless they're just imagining it.

crash i think we agree!

would it be true if i added... liberals may accept non traditional "art" easier whereas conservatives may not

not to say liberal are always right... not everything radical is art but take impressionists, today their art looks tame but back them it was revolutionary

anyways rock on!

[subego]

Originally Posted by Chongo 

Maybe you can answer my question. Where would you place someone like Jackson Pollack?

I don't really like him, so as such haven't invested any effort to put it in a proper context. CRASH's analysis sounds good to me.

Originally Posted by CRASH HARDDRIVE 

Personally, I think it's a lot like the recent comedy and conservatives thread- the arts shouldn't have all that much to do with anyone's political beliefs.

I essentially agree with you. One of the reasons I started that thread is that it had all of the sudden struck me that comedy is an odd example where a fair number of people ignore this and achieve success.

Originally Posted by ironknee 

non traditional "art" easier whereas conservatives may not

What would you consider to be non-traditional art nowadays?

[Shaddim]

Originally Posted by Jawbone54 

I have quite a few friends who are conservative and deeply involved in the arts (mostly music). For anyone who doesn't know, I'm probably considered heavily conservative by most people in here.

I've dabbled in music, lyricism, modern paintings, photography, drawing, poetry, and short stories. I don't consider myself particularly skilled, but being consistently involved in all of this is absolutely necessary for my sanity.

My book library at home consists of tons of poetry books (John Keats: all-time favorite), photography collections (Henri Cartier-Bresson was king), and literature of all kinds. Musical tastes are fairly eclectic. Besides the obvious Christian music stuff I listen to, I'm into alternative music, classical, big band, blues, pop, rock, and even a little country (NOT the Toby Keith style). - Last.fm profile

I've always fit in better with the artsy crowd, and even gained about 5x more liberal friends than conservative friends in college. I think there's a difference between people who appreciate the arts and people who are obsessed with them. Liberal artists tend to center their lives around the arts, and become extremely involved. Conservative artists aren't necessarily less talented or appreciative, but seem to be less likely to get heavily involved with the culture surrounding the arts.

Thread necro alert!

Christian rock sure has come a long way from the days of Petra and Stryper.

[Laminar]

Demon Hunter is also good for a laugh.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Shaddim 

Christian rock sure has come a long way from the days of Petra and Stryper.

Doof's professional advice for those wanting to rock and roll:

1) Grow your hair, you pansies.
2) Learn how to play the guitar, you pansies.
3) Go back to the music store and ask 'em what they did with the other half of your drum kit, you pansies.
4) A JCM800 up full bore sounds way better than that Recto, you pansies.