The NEA-Our Tax Dollars at Work

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the US Government (a contradiction in terms?), which was created by Congress in 1965 to fund and support artists and their works of art. In FY 2009, NEA's budget was 155 million dollars. Since its inception, the agency has been the subject of controversy over its funding of controversial works of art. Recipients have included Robert Mapplethorpe, whose specialty was homo-erotic art, Barabara Degenevieve, who specialized in trans-gender subjects, and Andres Serrano, was "created" the infamous "Piss-Christ", a crucifix of a Christ figure submerged in Serrano's own urine. Well, in these days of government excess under President Obama and his "stimulus package", the NEA, which received $80 million in stimulus give-a-ways is back in the headlines.

The latest NEA grants include $50,000 (that's our tax money) to the Frameline Film House in San Francisco (need I go further?), which has just screened a pornographic horror film called "Thundercrack", which features four men, three women and a gorilla.




Also on the receiving end of our tax money is the Counterpulse, a playhouse in....San Francisco, of course. This is a real playhouse, folks, which is running a play called "Perverts Put Out" featuring naked actors on stage. Customers are invited onstage to "join your fellow pervs for some explicit, twisted fun."

"Perverts Put Out" actor and San Francisco mayoral candidate George Davis




Counterpulse has also received $25,000 (of our money) to put on a play called "The Symmetry Project". Symmetry of what, you might ask. This thought-provoking production explores the symetry of various body parts-all of which are involved with sex in one form or another (except possibly the nose). Basically it's two naked dolts writhing around on the floor.


So there it is, folks. Our tax dollars at work. Somewhere, Robert Mapplethorpe must be smiling wherever he is. But if you object to this use of our tax-dollars, you might write a letter to someone in Washington. To Barney Frank, perhaps?

"I don't think that's funny!"