Government and the Arts; Abstract Expressionism and Music

Examine the U.S. Government’s support during the Great Depression for programs, such as the Federal Arts Project, the Federal Writers’ Project, and other such efforts. Determine whether or not such projects were good government investments during those hard times, and provide two (2) examples that support your viewpoint. Determine in what ways the U.S. government currently tries to support the arts.
State whether you agree or disagree with the perception of Abstract Expressionism as exemplifying individualism and freedom. Explain the reasons for your views. Compare and contrast one (1) example of Abstract Expressionist visual art to John Cage?s musical compositions. After reviewing the pages and Websites below, explain how an abstract expressionist artist might respond to the assertion “my kid could paint that”. Explain your position on that assertion.
Explore:

Government and the Arts

Chapter 37 (pp. 1228-1232), Federal support for the arts
Government helping the arts in hard times:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/1934-the-art-of-the-new-deal-132242698/
http://www.pbs.org/speak/seatosea/powerprose/wpa/
Abstract Expressionism and Music

Chapter 38 (pp. 1255-1263, and 1268-9), Abstract Expressionism
Chapter 38 (pp. 1266-1269), Music of Chance; review the Week 9 ?Music Folder?
John Cage, listen and see ? “Dream” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hVFCmK6GgM
John Cage, listen and see — ?4?33?” at (performed by William Marx):

Audience reactions to 4?33?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8lXRusTpY4&index=4&list=PL223147EC2385356B (see also http://www.npr.org/2000/05/08/1073885/4-33)
“My Kid Could Draw That” views: http://www.theamericanconservative.com/my-kid-could-draw-that/; and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/28/study-examines-difference_n_841268.html

Discussion 2
“Correlation and Regression” (Note: Please respond to one [1] of the following two [2] bulleted items):

Debate the following statement: “Correlation means Causation.” Determine whether this statement is true or false, and provide reasoning for your determination, using the Possible Relationships Between Variables table from your textbook.
Biddle and Hamermesh (1990) built a multiple regression model to study the tradeoff between time spent in sleeping and working and to look at other factors affecting sleep:
Sleep = β0 + β1 totwrk + β2 educ + β3 age + ε

where sleep and totwrk (total work) are measured in minutes per week and educ and age are measured in years. Suppose the following equation is estimated:

Sleep = 3500 ? 0.15 totwrk ? 11.20 educ + 2.29 age + ε

Discuss what would happen to someone?s sleep if they choose to work more.
Analyze whether the factors of totwrk, educ, and age are enough factors to explain the variation in sleep. Explain which additional factors should be explored in order to explain the variation in sleep. Provide your reasoning.