This discussion of controversial art is limited primarily to two eras and countries: current debate in the United States concerning NEA funding and World War II German art policies. The paper focuses on the actions undertaken by the National Socialist Regime to suppress and condemn German Expressionistic art, culminating in the 1937 Degenerate Art exhibit. Parallels are drawn between the Nazi repression of art and current deliberations in the United States over the importance of federally funded art.