Glenn Beck's art criticism explained

When Fox television commentator Glenn Beck played art critic two weeks ago, giving a now-notorious rant about some 75-year-old art commissioned for Manhattan's Rockefeller Center, it wasn't the mash-up of socialist, communist, fascist and other symbolism he identified that left some viewers slack-jawed. That obvious information has been known and studied for, well, 75 years.

No, the surprise lay elsewhere.

First, Beck lamented that few observers now have any idea what that symbolism is — which made his wild-eyed concern bizarre. If people today don't recognize the symbols, how could they be a threat?

Second, Beck kept linking the symbolism to über-capitalist John D. Rockefeller Sr., founder of the Standard Oil monopoly, and to the Rockefeller family, presumably including his philanthropist son John Jr. and grandson Nelson, who oversaw construction of much of Rockefeller Center and was later a Republican governor of New York. Monopoly capitalism doesn't usually fit very well with socialist and communist ideals, so Beck's adamant insistence on the Rockefeller family connection seemed weird.

Turns out there's a fairly simple — and quite horrifying — explanation.

Writing in Salon Wednesday,  journalist Alexander Zaitchik, who is working on a Beck biography, detailed the commentator's admiration for the late conspiracy fantasist W. Cleon Skousen. What kind of all-American fellow was he? In addition to his radical John Birch Society activities, Zaitchik writes that “The Making of America,” a history text authored by Skousen, “characterized African-American children as 'pickaninnies' and described American slave owners as the 'worst victims' of the slavery system.”

More to the point of Beck's foray into art analysis, Skousen also developed a conspiracy theory that dynastic families like the Rockefellers used left-wing front groups “to do their dirty work and hide their tracks.” In 1971 Skousen founded the Freeman Institute, Zaitchik adds, “a research organization devoted to the study of the super-conspiracy directed by the Rockefellers....”

Skousen, a former Salt Lake City police chief who died at 92 in 2006, authored more than a dozen books and pamphlets on Christian child-rearing, the communist threat to the United States, the global conspiracy of a New World Order and Mormon end-times prophecy. The LDS Church has distanced itself from Skousen and his "theories," but Beck, a professed alcoholic and drug-abuser who partly attributes his recovery to his conversion to Mormonism, wrote the preface to a recent reissue of Skousen's best-known book, “The 5,000 Year Leap.” The Freeman Institute later changed its name to the National Center for Constitutional Studies, Zaitchik observes, and now publishes the Skousen book with Beck's foreword.

To Beck, Rockefeller Center's art therefore appears to be some sort of evidence confirming Skousen's loony theories. A dynastic family was supposedly hiding behind socialist and communist front groups, like the Wizard of Oz furiously pulling levers behind a curtain.

“These things have been in plain sight, and nobody notices it,” Beck sputtered about the Rockefeller Center friezes and murals. “It makes sense!”

It doesn't make any sense, of course — until you read Zaitchik's chillingly informative article.

--Christopher Knight

Photos: Glenn Beck; credit: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times; (l. to r.) Rodman, Nelson, John Jr. and John D. Rockefeller Sr.; credit: Rockefeller Family Archives

Comments

[Jon in CA]

Another article attacking Glenn Beck?? It would appear the lady doth protest too much!

Seriously, Christopher, is it P-nis envy or are you just incapable of being a REAL journalist? (you know - the kind who UNCOVERS institutional fraud, waste and abuse ... like the 20-something kids are doing to ACORN)

I suspect you're compensating for your lack of skill and accomplishment - in turn you attack a fox news talk-show host.

WOW - you're changing the world, dude!! (insert sarcasm)

[Donald Feller]

Come on, folks, this is just one more 'old time' huckster who is essentially what 'John McCann' called it... another Entertainer! Folks, he makes BIG $ on your naviety and thumbs his nose all the way to the bank with your $ ! So who is the fool here? The majority of his slavish followers don't read any alternative view points or even attempt to analyze his "Truths" which are all B.S. He's outdoing "Druggie" Limburger in outrageousness and maybe the "Duggie" guy should take notice! This idiocy does not make 'history', except as Father Couglin the Vatican spokesman of the 1940's did in the USA as he proclaimed the ignorance of Roman Catholic bigotry in support of Hitler! Does anyone know or remember this? We are Americans who THINK... What happened to the rest or you???? D.

[Jolie]

Why do I want to punch this guy in the mouth everytime I see his chubby face? His smarmy smirk is grotesque. Does anybody else feel this way?

[Warren Keating]

I disagree with the comment below that says that Mr. Knight protests too much. I've been following his articles on Glen Beck, and this is a follow-up, full of useful information that may explain the source of Beck's ignorant rant. I'm thoroughly interested by this, whether I agree with Mr. Knight's opinion or not (for the record, I agree).

[steve vanoni]

who would care about his art critique... has he studied art history? cheap shot uneducated opinions from people who don't care about art...... less then a dime a dozen..........

[pablo]

GO GLENN GO-- go expose the idiots for what and who they are! Fox rules the ratings because they tell the truth .. while all Chris Matthews Keith Oberman and lame ass Ed can only drool on their bibs and wet their shorts..Acorn exposed for the whackos they are--now lets get the FED!

other networks get to look on in awe as the truth is exposed on fox, abc cbs and nbc msnbc and cnn cant even carry glenns jock strap

[pablo]

Hey Jolie you want to punch him because you are a HATER--typical of the left --what you do not agree with becomes the object of your hate --maybe someday you will grow out of your HATE,,But i doubt it--Glenn rules acorn drools

[ernie1241]

I am the author of the report about Skousen which is based upon his FBI personnel file -- that Alex Zaitchik mentions in his article about the Beck-Skousen connection.

For anyone interested in discovering the details concerning the misrepresentations by Skousen and his admirers regarding his FBI career, see:
http://ernie1241.googlepages.com/skousen

[Sue]

Glenn Beck is a paranoid delusional "entertainer" and his so-called art critique is flat out wrong. I'm thankful for these wonderfully informative articles! His drumming up of the tea-bagger 912 movement is scare-mongering and reminiscent of the 50's red-scare and until more intellectuals come out and denounce this fool, it'll be more of the same.

[Jake Hill]

So what? What is wrong with pointing out socialist and communist symbols in America. There are real communists here. Some are open and some are not. It's not illegal to be a communist, but it is dangerous (in my opinion). Glenn Beck isn't popular because he points out things we don't see. He is popular because he points out things we do see. Van Jones, Acorn, and our president are much closer to communists, socialists, or fascists than the American public, and I don't see anything wrong with pointing that out.

[John]

You go LA Times - keep ignoring important stories and go after commentators instead. Great Journalism!!

[Jezebella]

Actually, it doesn't make any sense if you know that the commie Diego Rivera mural in question was destroyed over 75 years ago. It's not hiding "in plain sight" at all; it doesn't even exist.

[OZ]

Glenn is just paving the way for the other one, Romney for 2012. At worst, Romney will be able to distance himself from the looney Mormon and show us all what a normal guy he is.

[SciLaw]

Glenn Beck is a high school educated ex DJ. Think anything substantive can come out of his moutn???

[David T.]

I've studied and taught psychology for 30 years. I specialize in body types-personality types.

Beck's type is the sociopath. Begging to be accepted, liked, coming off like a likable ordinary guy while at the same time displaying behavior that does the opposite. These types are dangerous to themselves and the people they have relationships with. One characteristic is that they have no close friends. People will associate with them because they have to, not that they want to, unless they themselves are benefiting from the relationship.

[Steve]

Jolie I totally agree with you. i can't understand why this doughy, overweight, annoying, person, who doesn't come off as even slightly intelligent is on tv.
I wish this country was still about the best and the brightest, sigh...

[Larry Linn]

Like his political dogma, Glenn beck is a cultural dinosaur. The artwork at Rockefeller Center has been studied for years. The Neo-Nazi John Birch Society was a haven for ignorant political impotents, like Beck. Perhaps I should go back and review my research of public art, and seek the face under the dunce cap and find a portrait of Beck. I assume that if ever reads Fahrenheit 451, he will want to burn it.

[ATL Guy]

Fox News is essentially the media arm of the Republican Party. That anyone would call what's reported on Fox as "Truth" deserve to be misled and lied to. Glenn Beck is a fool who would normally be ignored as such. It's the fear that blacks and minorities are ascending in society that make these people seem sensible.

[Maria]

Newflash to Wingnut Nation: You lost the election... get over it.

Sound familiar? That's what those opposing the Bush/Cheney fiefdom heard for 8 years. Shoe's on the other foot now and, apparently, some people are mad about it - hysterically, screaming, hyperventilating mad.

Meanwhile, I'm thrilled that Fox News continues to set up soapboxes for wackjobs like Beck. A few more cycles of Palin, Romney, Bachman, et al, being treated like the GOP's intellectual giants means no fear of them ever winning, since it's highly unlikely they will ever be able to woo independents and moderate Dems to their far-right (parallel) universe.

[LUXANDRO]

We, on the planet Xeon, are considering redacting this Beck person to our Galaxy for study. He appears to represent the most extreme in what we think of as "lesser beings."

After a thorough study he will be incorporated into a display of primitive civilizations in our Galactic Museum, which benefits all the citizens of our society.

This Beck human will not realize he is no longer seen and heard on your planet, as we have instantly duplicated his earthly environment. Thus, he can continue spewing his insane rants until the Elders determine his value as a specimen has dropped to zero.
Sincerely,
Luxandro of Xeon