‘People are picking the dumbest fights’: the tortured history of America’s culture wars
Author Isaac Butler explores the origins of the American culture wars, tracing them back to the 1980s and the politicization of art. He argues that the current era represents a second, more intense phase of these societal conflicts.
Why it matters
Understanding the historical roots of modern polarization provides context for current debates surrounding art, media, and political discourse.
Christians protest outside the Ziegfeld Theater in Manhattan, against Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ in 1988 Christians protest outside the Ziegfeld Theater in Manhattan, against Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ in 1988 Books ‘People are picking the dumbest fights’: the tortured history of America’s culture wars In a new book, Isaac Butler goes back to the 1980s to trace how battles started against the arts, from Piss Christ to Mapplethorpe, and looks at what we can learn for today
The Guardian typically frames cultural analysis through a progressive lens, focusing on the politicization of art as a societal concern.
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