Streisand Defends Political Role of Art

Barbra Streisand used her speech at the Kennedy School's ARCO Forum last night to defend the art world from what she said was a "resurgent reactionary mood" sweeping America.

"Art does not exist only to entertain," Streisand said, attacking consevatives' calls to eliminate federal funding for the arts. "To force us to conform to some rigid notion of mainstream American values is to weaken the very foundation of American democracy."

Streisand said increased public support for the arts was particularly crucial in light of the current political climate.

"So much of what the artist needs to flourish and survive is at risk right now."

Streisand said funding of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting should continue and that House Speaker Newt Gingrich's notion that private donations could provide continued quality arts programming was incorrect.

"All great civilizations have supported the arts," she said. "Art can illuminate, enlighten, inspire. It becomes heat in cold places, light in dark places."

The 52-year-old actress, whose talk was entitled "The Artist As Citizen," said she was first and foremost a "taxpaying, voting, concerned American citizen" who as an artist has a responsibility to voice her political opinions.

"The basic task of the artist is to explore the human condition, to walk in others' shoes...Participation in politics is a natural outgrowth of what we do. It can and should be a responsible use of celebrity. We have the ability to reach people and influenceopinions," the entertainer said.

Streisand has been an active campaigner fordemocratic candidates since George McGovern's 1972presidential bid.

Her Streisand Foundation, set up in the wake ofthe 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, has donatedover $8 million to a variety of liberal causes,including AIDS research, environmental protectionand gay rights activism.

As she walked onto the dais, Streisand lookedat the banks of national press cameras and tiersof audience members and mouthed "Wow."

Harvard's Acting President and Dean of theKennedy School Albert Carnesale introduced thestar, calling himself a fan her music.

As Carnesale ran over long history of stage,screen and concert performances, as well as hercommitment to political activism, the entertainerpantomimed modest embarrassment, playing to theaudience by sneaking under Carnesale's podium toget a glass or water.

Streisand, who admits to suffering from stagefright, appeared anxious during the speech andstopped several times during her delivery. Shesaid she was more nervous speaking to the crowd ofprofessors and students than performing in frontof thousands of people.

Nonetheless, Streisand's talk garnered her astanding ovation from the standing-room only crowdwhich included economist John Kenneth Galbraith,Administrative Dean of the Faculty John B. Fox Jr.'59 and Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III.

Audience members said Streisand's responsesduring the question and answer session were lessconvincing than the speech she gave off of theteleprompter.

"In her prepared speech, she took many stands.But, when it came time for her to expand on them,she seemed uncomfortable expressing her ownconvictions," said Leah T. Okimoto '98. "It mademany of us wonder how valid her claims were."

After the speech, one fan took Streisand's mugof tea as a souvenir, while others waited at theback gates of the Kennedy School, hoping toglimpse Streisand as her entourage headed to thePresident's House at 17 Quincy Street for dinner.

"I saw her hair," one gushed, as the car spedby, with Streisand Carnesale squeezed in the backseat.

Streisand's spokesperson, Ken Sunshine, saidthat Marge Tabankin, head of the StreisandFoundation, encouraged Streisand to visit Harvardafter her own experience as an I.O.P. fellow lastyear.

"She's had a terrific time." Sunshine said."what she liked most was the interaction with thestudents."

Sunshine said that Streisand attended classesyesterday. "She had homework, and did it," hesaid.

Approximately 650 people attended last night'sspeech, which was covered by over 70 members ofthe media.

Students who did not get tickets were able towatch the speech in classrooms on closed-circuitTV or on New England Cable News, which broadcastthe talk live.

Amita K. Shukla and the Associated Presscontributed to the reporting of this story.CrimsonRebecca L. BennettBARBRA STREISAND speaking at the IOP lastnight.

Streisand has been an active campaigner fordemocratic candidates since George McGovern's 1972presidential bid.

Her Streisand Foundation, set up in the wake ofthe 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, has donatedover $8 million to a variety of liberal causes,including AIDS research, environmental protectionand gay rights activism.

As she walked onto the dais, Streisand lookedat the banks of national press cameras and tiersof audience members and mouthed "Wow."

Harvard's Acting President and Dean of theKennedy School Albert Carnesale introduced thestar, calling himself a fan her music.

As Carnesale ran over long history of stage,screen and concert performances, as well as hercommitment to political activism, the entertainerpantomimed modest embarrassment, playing to theaudience by sneaking under Carnesale's podium toget a glass or water.

Streisand, who admits to suffering from stagefright, appeared anxious during the speech andstopped several times during her delivery. Shesaid she was more nervous speaking to the crowd ofprofessors and students than performing in frontof thousands of people.

Nonetheless, Streisand's talk garnered her astanding ovation from the standing-room only crowdwhich included economist John Kenneth Galbraith,Administrative Dean of the Faculty John B. Fox Jr.'59 and Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III.

Audience members said Streisand's responsesduring the question and answer session were lessconvincing than the speech she gave off of theteleprompter.

"In her prepared speech, she took many stands.But, when it came time for her to expand on them,she seemed uncomfortable expressing her ownconvictions," said Leah T. Okimoto '98. "It mademany of us wonder how valid her claims were."

After the speech, one fan took Streisand's mugof tea as a souvenir, while others waited at theback gates of the Kennedy School, hoping toglimpse Streisand as her entourage headed to thePresident's House at 17 Quincy Street for dinner.

"I saw her hair," one gushed, as the car spedby, with Streisand Carnesale squeezed in the backseat.

Streisand's spokesperson, Ken Sunshine, saidthat Marge Tabankin, head of the StreisandFoundation, encouraged Streisand to visit Harvardafter her own experience as an I.O.P. fellow lastyear.

"She's had a terrific time." Sunshine said."what she liked most was the interaction with thestudents."

Sunshine said that Streisand attended classesyesterday. "She had homework, and did it," hesaid.

Approximately 650 people attended last night'sspeech, which was covered by over 70 members ofthe media.

Students who did not get tickets were able towatch the speech in classrooms on closed-circuitTV or on New England Cable News, which broadcastthe talk live.

Amita K. Shukla and the Associated Presscontributed to the reporting of this story.CrimsonRebecca L. BennettBARBRA STREISAND speaking at the IOP lastnight.