Show I New Idea of Art ArtIs ArtIs ArtIs Is Discussed by Upton Sinclair Art Is Propaganda According to the Author Who Vho Establishes Establishes Establishes lishes a New Viewpoint Vie on Art and Artists All art is propaganda present I day writers painters and sculptors are laboring under a misconception of or the worth of their art the goal of or the ancient artist was personal gain and the desire to please their masters without of authenticity authenticity authenticity even In tho the days drs of Grecian supremacy artists labored to deceIve deceive de de- de- de the masse masses a as to the true status of their masters pain painting tin them In a vainglorious fashion a halo of glory about their heads These are the contentions of Upton Upton Upton Up Up- ton Sinclair as set forth In his last book booc Mammon Art Like The Jungle The Brass Check Education and many other books by this author Mammon Mammon Mam Mam- Iam- Iam mon Art Is too long It is biased in favor of socialistic principles and contains Irrelevant information having having haying hav hay ing but little bearing on the subject matter However he establishes a new point pont of or view In the consideration o o a ancient and modern art and has woven Into the series of articles s inmate personal data concerning artists of and modern times times 1 that more admiring biographers might have hesitated about using The book Is a study of the artist In hi his bis relation to the propertied classes Its thesis Is that from the dawn of human history the paths to honor and success in the arts have been through service to and flattery of the ruling classes the aim of the artist being to entertain his master from whom the rewards would come and In teaching the suf subjects whether slaves or em em- that they should stand In inae awe ae of the ruling and property classes Jt It investigates the whole process of at art creation and places art function function tion in Sn relation to man progress all ah art Is propaganda the author c contends sometimes but hut moro more often deliberate da Humans of today he ho state stat are under a spell of false conception concep concep- tion Insofar as art Is concerned and succeeding artists are following blindly the paths laid out by their predecessor predecessors who have attained name namo and wealth through the exploitation ex cx- of or the and ruling element For the reader artist or business businessman man of or today to fo agree ree with the theauthor theauthor theauthor author would be fatal and Impossible ble probably Sinclair never neer intended intend intend- ed that they should but he convinces convinces convinces con con- vinces the reader that a new medium medium medi medi- um urn ground must he be established where fre dom from the dogma of or art principles may 1 be e fount found But aside from the tho points upon which there Is sure to be controversy controversy controversy contro contro- versy and difference of opinion the thebo thebo bo k J Is Interesting throughout It contains J a wealth of Information o or of unusual Interest impulses which resulted In great reat masterpieces are dealt with Impulses which prevented prevent p ed cd tho the birth hirth or dwarfed great reat mas- mas t ces are discussed with perfect freedom With utter frankness Sinclair r relates personal onal traits of I artists ancient and and modern Granting that the opinions of the reader leader will III not with the I those of the author f Mammon Art after aftel heins thoroughly rend read becomes a valuable book of reference be because because be- be cause of or It Its wealth of personal data having to do with practically every worth while artist o of all periods of ot human progress pro ress Upton Sinclair Pasadena Cal |