Arizona Miscellaneous Topics

Arizona has featured a continuous string of dancing and performing groups of many ethnicities. The state is a recognized center of Native American art, with a number of galleries such as the Heard Museum showcasing historical and contemporary works. Sedona, Jerome, and Tubac are known as budding artist colonies, and small arts scenes exist in the larger cities and near the state universities.

Many tourist souvenirs produced in Arizona or by its residents display characteristic images, such as sunsets, coyotes, and desert plants. Several major Hollywood films, such as Billy Jack, U-Turn, Waiting to Exhale, Just One of the Guys, Can't Buy Me Love, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, The Scorpion King, The Banger Sisters, Used Cars, and Raising Arizona have been made there (as indeed have many Westerns). The 1993 science fiction movie Fire in the Sky, which was actually based on a reported alien abduction in Arizona, was set and filmed in the town of Snowflake. The climax of the 1977 Clint Eastwood film The Gauntlet takes place in downtown Phoenix. The final segments of the 1984 film Starman take place at Meteor Crater outside Winslow. The Jeff Foxworthy comedy documentary movie Blue Collar Comedy Tour was filmed almost entirely at the Dodge Theatre. Arguably one of the most famous examples could be Alfred Hitchcock's classic film Psycho. Not only was some of the film shot in Phoenix, but the main character is from there as well. Some of the television shows filmed or set in Arizona include The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Alice, The First 48, Insomniac with Dave Attell, COPS, and America's Most Wanted. The 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, for which Ellen Burstyn won the Academy Award for Best Actress, and also starred Kris Kristofferson, was set in Phoenix, as was the TV sitcom Alice, which was based on the movie.

See also List of films shot in Arizona

Arizona is prominently featured in the lyrics of many Country and Western songs. Jamie O'Neal's hit ballad "There is No Arizona" uses Arizona's popularity as a vacation spot to illustrate high hopes that can be dashed by disillusionment. George Strait's "Oceanfront Property" uses the offer of "ocean front property in Arizona" as a metaphor for a sucker proposition that is obviously false.

"Arizona" was the title of a popular song recorded by Mark Lindsay (formerly of Paul Revere and the Raiders) that was a hit during the winter of 1969-1970.

Arizona's budding music scene is helped by emerging bands, as well as some well-known artists. The Gin Blossoms, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, Jimmy Eat World and others began their careers in Arizona. Also, a number of punk bands got their start in Arizona, including JFA, The Feederz, Sun City Girls, The Meat Puppets, and more recently Authority Zero. There is also an indie rock scene with artists such as Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Fine China, Greeley Estates, The Stiletto Formal, The Format.

Arizona also has its share of singers and other musicians. Singer, songwriter and guitarist Michelle Branch is from Sedona. Chester Bennington, the lead vocalist of Linkin Park, and mash-up artist DJ Z-Trip are both from Phoenix. One of Arizona's more infamous musicians would be shock rocker Alice Cooper, who helped define the genre. Other notable singers include Marty Robbins, Katie Lee, Stevie Nicks, CeCe Peniston, Rex Allen, (2007 American Idol winner) Jordin Sparks, and Linda Ronstadt.

See also Music of Arizona

Some famous Arizonans involved in politics and government are:

• former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
• founder of NTV Geoff Stirling
• former U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini
• Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio
• Junior Republican Senator Jon Kyl, current chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, and the No.3 Republican in the Senate.
• Presidential candidate (2000), (2008) and Senior Republican Senator John McCain
• Presidential candidate (1964) and former U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater
• former Governor, Secretary of the Interior, and Presidential candidate (1988) Bruce Babbitt
• Presidential candidate (1976) and former Arizona congressman Mo Udall and his brother Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall
• former U.S. Senator Carl Hayden
• and former United States Solicitor General Rex E. Lee.
• Glenn Spencer - Anti-Illegal Immigration advocate.

Arizona notables in culture and the arts include:

• author Zane Grey
• architect Frank Lloyd Wright
• artist Georgia O'Keeffe
• musicians Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, Alice Cooper and Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac, of Phoenix
• Linda Ronstadt of Tucson, Michelle Branch of Sedona, Authority Zero and Jimmy Eat World of Mesa
• poet Jim Simmerman of Flagstaff
• film director Steven Spielberg grew up in Scottsdale, as did David Spade and Wonder Woman star Lynda Carter.
• labor leader and civil rights pioneer Cesar Estrada Chavez was from San Luis, near Yuma

Monument Valley on the Navajo Reservation is famous for its scenery and Hollywood Westerns.