ouch, we’ve got a couple of burn victims!
I doubt that you’ve missed the war of words over Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum’s book on scientific illiteracy in the United States as well as the critiques over his blame-the-scientists approach and aversion for saying necessary but potentially unpopular things. Now, an online spoof magazine decided to take up the controversial buzz and make a point with a healthy dose of biting sarcasm.
Published quickly on the heels of their book on public scientific literacy, Unscientific America, Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum have released their newest book Unartistic America, which tackles the low art literacy in America, it’s consequences, and what should be done to change the situation.
How did we reach this dismal state? According to Mooney and Kirshenbaum, much of the blame lies with the members of the art community, who do not spend enough time explaining art to a general population. “What we need”, writes Mooney, “is a new generation of Andy Warhols, capable of making art seem relevant and understandable to a general audience.”
via The Spoof and Jerry Coyne
The writer of this Onion-esque piece, a certain Sarl Cagan (wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more), pulls no punches and adds a few notes in an acid pen.
Unartistic America, along with Unscientific America, together provide a quick one-two punch against illiteracy in America and the complacent Establishment scientists and artists who have let it happen. Only when the elders of the science and art communities accept the seasoned wise council of Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum, can we truly become an Artistic (and Scientific) America.
Even more merciless are his abbreviated author bios which show just how quickly a popular science writer can squander the good will of his potential audience with a bad book and a promotional effort which becomes toxic to the very people trying to promote and encourage scientific thought.
