Why are most classical music lovers politically liberal?

I've always wondered why most (if not all) of my classical music (and art) loving friends tend to be politically liberal. Is it simply true that most political conservatives tend to be less sensitive, introspective, creative or in touch with their feelings than are liberals? As a political conservative, I've often wondered about this. Is there truly a stereotype at work here, or am I simply off base with my observations?

There seem to be plenty of conservatives here, though.

Dave Cook

It might be true that classical music people, on average, are skewed slightly to the liberal side of the spectrum. But nevertheless we cover a very wide political spectrum. On the other hand, it might seem hard to believe, but composer Milton Babbit is a card-carrying Republican whose tastes in pop music (as opposed to classical) are not too different from those of Ken B. Lane.

No, and one doesn't necessarily have to 'be in touch with one's feelings' to know and appreciate classical music. That's a modern pop-psychobabble term that really doesn't mean anything. Humans are emotional beings that also have the capacity to think. You will find that political conservatives and liberals alike are capable of feeling the full range of emotions and are also capable of independent, intelligent thought. I am a professional classical musician. I have colleagues in both camps and I enjoy the company of all of them.

It's probably just an illusion caused by the fact that you tend to mix with such people

I've always found it interestig that while most musicians and people involved in the classical music business are predominantly liberal, our audiences are largely conservative.

Because for the most part, live performance requires a willing suspension of disbelief, and so does liberalism.

That doesn't sound that surprising. After all, the average audience member is considerably wealthier than the average musician, which probably explains at least some of the disparity . . .

If you were less sensitive, introspective, creative or in touch with your feelings you wouldn't have had these thoughts.

-John Thomas

I've wondered the same thing for many years.

Oh I disagree very emphatically. Speaking personally first, I certainly consider myself to be sensitive and introspective (and *maybe* even a little creative). And I do have a 'few' musician friends who are political conservatives, one in particular, a former colleague, who is an extremely sensitive person and an extremely talented pianist. And I did know (personally) *one*(!) great concert pianist who was also a conservative, but I do have to admit that 'folks' of this ideology are as scarce as snowmen in Florida in the winter.

I've said many times that if friendships in the music world were dependent on mutual political philosophies, people such as myself would have very few musician friends. Additionally, two or three of my best internet friends are liberals (and I presume political ones, even though we don't talk politics very much).

As a political conservative, I've often wondered about

You're certainly not off base but I don't know about 'defining' a stereotype. I don't think anyone that I know could be described as 100% liberal or 100% conservative, as I myself am not. But it would be interesting to 'work up' a profile!

Gerrie C

Yes. They are also less intelligent.