The US culture wars have long been a staple of American politics, but the roots of this divisive phenomenon lie in a pivotal moment in history – the late 1980s. It was during this era that the newly ascendant religious right redirected its focus from the Cold War to wage a domestic battle over contemporary art, particularly that funded by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). A new book by American author Isaac Butler delves into these origins, tracing the beginnings of the culture wars back to this period.
Butler's extensive research was sparked by the 2020 postponement of a retrospective of American painter Philip Guston at the National Gallery of Art. The controversy surrounding Guston's works highlighted the ongoing politicisation of art and popular culture – a phenomenon he argues is visible again today, with society becoming increasingly polarised along cultural lines. For Butler, this was not merely an arts issue, but a battle over free expression itself.
The 1980s marked a turning point for the US, as the Cold War drew to a close and the country's politics began to shift towards more divisive issues. The rise of figures like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the implementation of "don't say gay" laws in certain states have echoed this period, with some critics arguing that these developments are part of a deliberate strategy to mobilise the right-wing base by targeting cultural institutions.
Butler's book provides a nuanced analysis of this complex history, highlighting the ways in which the religious right has sought to redirect its energy from foreign policy to domestic culture wars. By examining the roots of this phenomenon, Butler sheds light on the ongoing tensions between artistic expression and conservative values – tensions that have profound implications for British readers as well, particularly given the UK's own debates over free speech, identity politics, and cultural sensitivity.