Question #1

During the Cold War era, the United State's public policy was especially vital.  Creating and maintaining a positive reputation internationally was used to combat the communist expansion.  Americans were scrutinized for their lack of artistic originality and influence, as the United States was criticized for copying many Paris works of art.  Abstract art was an attempt at bringing something new to the art world that had never been seen before.  The United States government wanted to leave its footprint on the world stage.  Instead of attacking the canvas with a predetermined image, abstract art was meant to focus more on the process than the final result.  However, this form of artistic expression had ulterior motives, and would thus be looked upon differently by most art loving individuals.

Question 3

Those who were subject to American culture exports may not have seen these in a completely peaceful way.  Some nations may have felt these cultural exports were being used as propaganda to promote the United States as a cultural peace driven nation, even though the U.S. was involved with many military efforts. These countries may have also realized the United States was trying to come off as non-imperialistic, but at the same time the U.S. was attempting to force their ways of culture, through art and entertainment. As a result, these countries could view the actions of the U.S. as aggressive and dominating nature, which is characteristic of a forceful imperial power. For example, although the abstract art created in the U.S. presented individuality and openness for interpretation,  the U.S. was pushing their own culture’s ideals onto other counties. This may have came off as chauvinistic and dictating, which means they were pushing peaceful culture in a not so peaceful way.
 
Matthew Burger 

Question 3

I don't think that the american cultural exports would have been effective in the way Eisenhower wanted. I think that foreigners would have felt that the US was forcing cultural upon them. Seeing american art wouldn't have necessarily made foreigners think that we weren't a war obsessed country. Also, the selectivity of the art forms, most notably the abstract art, didn't even allow foreigners to see a true representation of american culture.

Question One

If the viewers, of the  Abstract Expressionism art work, knew the origins of this style it would not have been very effective for the U.S. foreign policy.  The idea behind Abstract Expressionism is that it is apolitical and free and the real meaning is in the process to make the piece not the final product.  Those points are the complete opposite of the way the U.S. government used it.  The relationship between the style and the use of it by the government are completely contradictory.

Question 2

I do not think President Eisenhower's Emergency Fund for International Affairs demonstrated the products and cultural values of a free enterprise system that he hoped they would. Even though the United States' invested money in to cultural export programs such as Radio Liberty and American talk shows, individuals may have been skeptical to accept these programs. To countless individuals, this tactic may have been viewed as a way to abandon their own products and cultural values to become indoctrinated with the American way of life. While the fund was highly successful, the idea of conformity to an unfamiliar way of life may been hard for a number of individuals to accept.

Question 3

I don't think America's cultural exports, particularly the abstract art, provided the counterargument to Communist propaganda charges that Eisenhower hoped they would. The US Government refused to send non-abstract American paintings abroad, and in doing so, they cut away part of the culture they were trying to showcase. The wild, perplexing style of abstract art seems to run contrary to the American values of conformity that were so dominant at the time.

Origins and uses of abstract expressionism

·         What is the relationship between the creation of Abstract Expressionism and the political use of Abstract Expressionism?  If viewers knew the origins of this style of painting, would exhibits of these paintings still make for effective U.S. foreign policy?