Artists in Times of War (Open Media Series)

This slim volume (I read it in an hour) by famous (or infamous, depending on your point of view) revisionist historian Zinn is direct and to the point: "It is the job of the artist...to think outside the boundaries of permissible thought and dare to say things that no one else will say." Of course, what Zinn thinks that artists should be saying is to speak out against war in ways that traditional journalists do not, CAN not. He cites Catch-22 by Joseph Heller as a case in point: "If, right after World War II, someone had written a nonfiction book on the ambiguities of war and the atrocities committed by the supposed good guys...such a book would have been difficult to publish. But...artists can be sly. They can point to things that take you outside traditional thinking because you can get away with it in fiction."This makes me think of the movie Fahrenheit 9/11 and how remarkable it is that Michael Moore has broken through that wall to bring forth a nonfiction artistic statement about the current administration and war. I think Zinn would be pleased. Now if only someone would make some of the movies he suggests in this book (the story of Emma Goldman, the Ludlow Massacre, the Phillipine-American war to name a few).

If you'd like to impress a decently wide variety of people you might bring into your home I would recommend purchasing this book.

Every artist should own it. Period.

Howard Zinn makes fine points about how Artists are the voice of conscience for nations. An artist's role is to tell the truth as he or she sees it. True artistic endeavors are truth, whether music, painting, sculpture or writing - truth through emotion or satire. Artists show us the truth whether we can see it or not. Joseph Heller told the truth of war, even when war was still patriotic social obligation. Mark Twain was the ultimate satirist, against imperialism and no one can accuse Twain of unpatriotism. Who else? Bob Dylan, e. e. cummings, Thomas Paine, Emma Goldman, and others.Howard Zinn is right and we are all artists in a time of war.

Dr. Zinn does a great job in this collection of essays letting a new generation understand that an untold section of American history involves, as Dr. King put it in his last speech, "our right to protest for right." This manifesto which urges people to speak out on what's going on no also includes historial precedents of this in his discussion of stories Hollywood doesn't tell (It$ not hard to gue$$ why). But in either case, read this book and then FIGHT THE POWER!

It is important for all painters, writers, musicians, actors, photographers, etc. to read books like this one because it is important for artists to ask themselves poignant questions such as, "What is the political effect of my art?", "Should I take on political topics to express how I feel about certain issues?", and "What are the potential benefits/consequences if I do?" Zinn's book offers a springboard toward thinking about these questions, and he puts forth some powerful arguments that, not only should artists create political works, but that when artists do, their works have potential that nonfiction works can never have.

Its a shame Howard Zinn is residing in the bosom of Western Society. This tome rambles and rambles with his inane observations. Zinn is in the same vein as Nietzsche, he uses his hammer to destroy, not to build solution.

Halfway done with the book now, very good for someone interested in whats real in the society we live in versus the reality in which presents itself. What made me get this book was current events and being involved with art. I think the points brought up about the role of artists and lesser known pieces of information are pretty valuable.Also a great introduction to the author Howard Zinn. If you like this author and want to recommend to a friend this book is a great start since it is an easy and convenient read.