aside from perpetuating itself, the sole purpose of the american academy and institute of arts and letters is to "foster, assist and sustain an interest" in literature, music, and art. this it does by enthusiastically handing out money. annual cash awards are given to deserving artists in various categories of creativity : architecture, musical composition, theater, novels, serious poetry, light verse, painting sculpture. one award subsidizes a promising american writer's visit to rome. there is is even an award for a very good work of fiction that failed commercially .... once won by the young john updike for the poorhouse fair and, more recently, by alice walker for in love and trouble.