Artist Interviews 2024

The Future of the Artist in America: A Dark Parallel to History
By Johnny Otto



The recent actions of President Donald Trump concerning the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts have drawn parallels to historical instances where political leaders sought to control artistic expression. Notably, comparisons have been made to Adolf Hitler's manipulation of the arts in Nazi Germany during the 1930s and 1940s. However, the suppression of artistic freedom is not unique to Hitler’s Germany; history is replete with examples of tyrants wielding control over culture and creativity to shape ideology, manipulate narratives, and suppress dissent.



Trump's Intervention in the Arts

In February 2025, President Trump appointed himself as chairman of the Kennedy Center after dismissing its president and several board members appointed by previous administrations. This move was accompanied by significant shifts in programming, including the elimination of events labeled as promoting "woke culture," with a specific focus on LGBTQ+ performances such as drag shows. Critics argue that these actions represent an attempt to control artistic expression and suppress dissenting voices.

This manipulation of cultural institutions for political purposes poses significant threats to artistic freedom and expression. By dictating what is acceptable art, these actions can stifle creativity, marginalize minority voices, and reshape cultural narratives to serve political ends. The historical example of Nazi Germany serves as a cautionary tale of how such control can lead to widespread censorship and cultural homogenization.



Historical Precedent: Nazi Germany's Control of the Arts

Upon rising to power in 1933, Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime sought to align German culture with their ideological views. The establishment of the Reich Chamber of Culture (Reichskulturkammer) under Joseph Goebbels aimed to control all forms of artistic expression, ensuring they conformed to Nazi ideals. Art that did not align with these ideals was labeled as "degenerate art" (Entartete Kunst) and was removed from museums, with many works destroyed or sold off.

Some of the most notable examples of banned art include:

- "The Stormtrooper" by Otto Dix – A haunting and grotesque depiction of a battle-hardened soldier, emphasizing the brutality and horror of war. Dix, who had served in World War I, often painted disfigured veterans and battlefield carnage in an unflinching style. The Nazis deemed his work as anti-German and unpatriotic, targeting it for removal. Dix once said, "Art is exorcism. I paint dreams and visions to free myself from the war."

- "The Tower of Blue Horses" by Franz Marc – A striking expressionist painting featuring a group of blue horses standing together in an almost mystical composition. Marc used bold colors to evoke spirituality and emotion, drawing from his belief in the interconnectedness of nature and animals. The Nazis viewed such abstraction as degenerate and removed it from public display. Marc had said, "Art must liberate us from the dead weight of the material world."

- "Self-Portrait with Model" by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner – A deeply personal and vivid painting that reflected the anxieties of modern life. Kirchner’s use of distorted figures and exaggerated colors represented psychological turmoil and cultural decay in post-World War I Germany. His entire body of work was condemned, and he later took his own life under the pressure of Nazi persecution. Before his death, Kirchner stated, "Art is a manifestation of human dignity, and they seek to destroy it."

- "The New Man" by Otto Freundlich – A pioneering abstract sculpture depicting the human form in geometric, faceless forms. Freundlich, a Jewish artist, sought to create a universal representation of humanity through his modernist vision. The Nazis despised his progressive ideas and used an image of this sculpture as the cover for their "Degenerate Art" exhibition, mocking its departure from classical ideals. Freundlich once wrote, "Art will rise again as the light of humanity, despite all attempts to silence it."

A large amount of "degenerate art" by renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst, Paul Klee, Fernand Léger, and Joan Miró was deliberately destroyed by the Nazis in a massive bonfire on the night of 27 July 1942, in the gardens of the Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume in Paris. This act of cultural destruction was an attempt to erase artistic innovation and reinforce rigid ideological control over creative expression. Many of these artists, who had previously flourished in avant-garde circles, saw their life's work incinerated in an event that marked one of the darkest moments in art history.



Many artists whose works were banned or confiscated expressed profound dismay and defiance. Max Beckmann, upon hearing of the "Degenerate Art" exhibition, remarked: "What we are experiencing now is the triumph of the Philistines over art."



Emil Nolde, initially a supporter of the Nazi party, was shocked to find his works condemned. In his private writings, he lamented: "I have been painting for decades, and now they say my art is degenerate. It is a deep injustice."



Art as a Target for Tyrants Throughout History

Hitler was far from the only leader to use art as a political tool. Many oppressive regimes throughout history have sought to control artistic expression:

- Joseph Stalin’s Soviet Union – Stalinist cultural policy enforced the doctrine of "socialist realism," banning abstract and modernist works. Art was expected to glorify the state, the working class, and Soviet ideals. Artists who resisted, such as poet Osip Mandelstam, were imprisoned or executed.

- Mao Zedong’s China – During the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), Mao’s regime suppressed intellectual and artistic expression, replacing traditional and modern art with propaganda that promoted communist ideals. Books, paintings, and films that did not conform were destroyed, and artists were sent to labor camps.

- Francisco Franco’s Spain – Under Franco, Spanish artists, writers, and filmmakers were subjected to strict censorship. The regime sought to suppress Catalan and Basque cultural expression, banning languages and artistic works that did not conform to nationalist ideals.

- Ayatollah Khomeini’s Iran – The Iranian Revolution of 1979 led to the suppression of Western-influenced art, music, and literature. Female performers were banned from singing in public, and artistic expressions that were deemed un-Islamic faced severe punishment.

- Pol Pot’s Cambodia – The Khmer Rouge, in an attempt to erase Cambodia’s cultural and intellectual elite, executed artists, writers, and musicians. The regime sought to eliminate all forms of art that did not conform to its extreme ideology.

The Implications for Artistic Freedom

The manipulation of artistic expression, whether in Nazi Germany, Stalinist Russia, or modern America, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of cultural suppression. The role of the artist has always been to challenge, provoke, and reflect society in its rawest form. Now, as history seems to repeat itself, the question remains: will artists be silenced, or will they fight to reclaim their voice?