In this course, we will be looking at the ways in which different thinkers and different political systems have defined both culture itself and the state's interest in culture. Among the questions to be considered are: What counts as culture and why? What kind of power is art, sculpture, literature, etc. though to exert and over whom? From the state's point of view, what is dangerous in culture and what is valuable about culture? What kinds of controls do different states exercise over culture, and what uses do different states make of culture? We will focus on several recent arts controversies and will try to develop comparisons between Japanese, American and European approaches to cultural policy.
