Aesthetic Force By Omission Part II

Suffocating divergent artistic voices in 2025

In October 2023, I published “Aesthetic Force By Omission Part I” as a brief historical study showing how removing women’s voices from music history and media ultimately shapes society’s mentality that simple absence means women don’t belong. I highly recommend you read the first AFBO article before moving forward for context.

Inside This Issue

• Aesthetic Force By Omission Part 2

• Madonna & Sir Elton: Forgiveness brings new music

• Kid Rock Talks Ticket Prices

• Recording Academy Advocates for Musicians in D.C.

Reminder: Herizon Music spotlights women in music and the issues that affect them and their fans. Sometimes those issues are political. This article does not cater to one political party. The purpose is to spread awareness about the historical, current and future implications for women in music when aesthetic force is used for political purposes. This is about right vs. wrong when it comes to freedom of expression and making sure that artists’ voices are heard and persevered without ideological censorship.

Aesthetic Force By Omission Part II

Fast forward to 2025 when President Donald Trump is illegally and/or unethically dismantling arts entities that he deems a threat to his “vision” of art and a white-washed, Christian nationalist country. Never did I think I’d live to see the day when a POTUS would attack the arts on such a sweeping scale. It’s not just an attack on free speech, it is an intentional silencing of voices and historical events that don’t support his authoritarian agenda. Hitler, Stalin, and Lenin were his predecessors in similar and quite successful endeavors.

This is not the way of a meritocracy in the performing arts. There can be no merit-based success without equal opportunity. And in this transactional era, there is no equal opportunity without discrimination-free funding.

“I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.” I don’t know who “our” includes in that statement, but it’s definitely exclusionary of many artists and their fans.

Let’s move on to his attack on the Smithsonian Institute of Arts.

source: AP News

The Smithsonian casts the founding principles of the United States in a negative light? Does this sound like someone who pursues truth or control?

source: The Guardian

By erasing women, people of color, LGBTQ+, non-christian faiths, and non-traditionalists from performance halls, websites, classrooms, libraries, public and museum walls, the leader sends a clear message: We do not belong here. We contribute no value, and our voices and history do not deserve to be heard. That is the invisible power of AFBO.

It’s a sneaky, nonviolent dominance tactic by a spiritually bankrupt leader.

While many examples of AFBO in modern music history are based on discriminatory industry practices under the guise of highest and easiest ROI, the practice on a national government level directly opposes free speech as guaranteed by The U.S. Constitution.

The post WWII decade ushered in a fear-based McCarthyism movement to deny artists freedom of expression. As Artforum points out, George A. Dondero, a Republican representative from Michigan, was unrelenting in censorship pursuits. In 1949, Dondero claimed on esthetic grounds all modern art was communist inspired because of the “depraved” and “destructive” nature of its forms. In Dondero’s own words:

“Modern art is Communistic because it is distorted and ugly, because it does not glorify our beautiful country, our cheerful and smiling people, and our material progress. Art which does not glorify our beautiful country in plain, simple terms that everyone can understand breeds dissatisfaction. It is therefore opposed to our government, and those who create and promote it are our enemies.”

Dondero would have been the first guy in line to sacrifice his wife for a Stepford duplicate. Am I wrong?!?

Like Trump, he dehumanized artists calling them “human termites,” “germ-carrying vermin,” “international art thugs,” “charlatans” and “insane.” One target of his disdain was a touring exhibit of 75 modern art works entitled “Advancing American Art” that received a $49,000 state grant. Dondero’s communist rants eventually influenced other arts and non-arts organizations to follow his lead. Secretary of State George C. Marshall, who originally funded the exhibit, was pressured into finally ordering “no more taxpayers’ money for modern art.” Read the Artforum article for a full chronicle on this and subsequent McCarthy era crusades against modern art.

One might argue that personal freedom of speech is protected, but governments don’t have to fund artistic entities, grants or programs. I’m not an attorney, but in looking at the First Amendment and affiliated court cases on https://constitution.congress.gov, I did learn something.

Government cannot revoke funding for art based on political views or punish institutions for expressing ideas it opposes, as this would violate the First Amendment's prohibition on viewpoint-based regulation.

Trump’s recent order to deny funding to arts projects that “promote gender ideology” is under review with the courts by way of a lawsuit against the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for bending the knee to said funding restrictions. While the order has not been blocked yet, the presiding federal judge stated that it likely violates the Administrative Procedural Act and the First Amendment. Details here.

Think about how the federal government and media talking heads publicly targeted The [Dixie] Chicks for speaking out against President George W. Bush and the Iraqi war at a 2003 concert. They went from being Sony’s top-selling act to getting zero country radio airplay due to targeted attacks that swayed public opinion to the point of death threats to band members. More on this insanity in an upcoming “Hidden Tracks” feature for premium subs.

Can you imagine how artists will be targeted if the courts allow Trump’s agenda to sway public opinion against freedom of speech for LGBTQ+ Americans and their friends and family? There are plenty of trans and non-binary songwriters/musicians who will suffer under this constitutional violation simply for being “out” about their sexuality. Because what is music if not self-expression?

As Alecia Keys said at the 2025 GRAMMYS, diversity is not a threat, it’s a gift. Did we not learn anything from Wicked?

History proves, it won’t stop there. Any person that does not fit the mold (which morphs at lightning speed) or is not willing to silently surrender their rights and dignity will suffer. It could be you. It could be me - especially after publishing this article.

Never thought I’d live to see the day where The Land Of The Free would be at risk of authoritarianism. This isn’t about left vs right. It’s about right vs wrong. Leadership that suppresses the arts has always been on the wrong side of history. But the fight for our rights as music fans and music makers to consume and make art as we choose is underway. Call your Senators, email your congress reps, vote every single time, and support your local music and arts scene. Donate to the ACLU.

Together we rise!

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In Other Music News

Madonna and Sir Elton John: This story warms my heart. Some may think it’s not a big deal, but it is. One of music’s most legendary men offered an apology for his behavior. It seems lately that apologizing is considered a sign of weakness. In fact, it’s a sign of growth and strength. So is graciously accepting an apology, which is exactly what Madge did. We can take lessons from both. Even better? Sir EJ wrote a song for Madonna and it looks like a collaboration is on the herizon.

On March 31st, Kid Rock showed up in a bedazzled jumpsuit to celebrate Trump’s order to help lower concert ticket prices. No female artists attended the press conference, according to reports that I read. This order has no real bite; it mostly directs federal agencies to enforce existing laws. “Bob” surprised me with his non-partisan speech, calling the order a good “first step.” For once, I agree with the guy whose last tour was called the “No Snowflakes” tour. Ya gotta start somewhere.

GRAMMYS on The Hill started this week with the Recording Academy’s advocacy programs’ lobbying for music industry professionals’ protections and rights. Having sat in on previous advocacy planning calls, I know these goals and programs are designed months in advance. Yet, it’s disappointing that there is not one word on RA advocacy pages about 47’s slash and burn defunding of arts programs and grants based on anti-inclusion policy. I will keep my eye out for an official statement. Here is an events listing from April 8-10.

This was a pretty intense issue, but one that my heart said needed to be published. Thank you for joining our band of dreamers, rule breakers, and rockstars.
Together we rise.
❤️🧡💛🚺

It’s a wrap!
Thea 🎶