Reviews
Is all art political?
Given an increasingly globalised world, with a seemingly ever-growing emphasis on instrumentalised production and economic utility, is the making of art (that is, any art at all) in itself a political act in relation to such a context, or does art need to be overtly political in either appearance or intention to qualify for such a tag?
Tags: art, globalisation, politics
Replies to This Reviews
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Permalink Reply by Michael Bowdidge on -
...And even if you don't feel able to comment on that come and say so! It's all good....
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Permalink Reply by Graham Lester George on -
It's not a clear either/or. By making art one is doing something which is by its very nature non-capitalist, in that profit is not the prime motivation. But some artists have always been overtly motivated, and many more are waking up to the issues which are direct consequences of capitalism and global corporatism; environment, poverty, social division, greed, injustice, war, crime, terrorism - I'm sure you can add to this list.
In Europe in the Twenties and Thirties, artists reacted to the sinister as well as the idealist political currents of their time. We are living through similar times but on a much bigger scale.
The end of Soviet Communism did not modify the rightward lurch of the US instigated by Reagan, instead it accelerated as the up and coming young hawks - Rumsfeldt, Pearl, Cheney et al who saw the opportunity to exploit the new world order to make America (and themselves along the way) vastly more wealthy at the expense of everyone else; who grew in influence under Bush senior and got their break under Bush jnr. They have certainly sown the seeds of theirs and the US Empire's decline along the way, but that will also entail - in the not too distant future - further death and destruction on a most terrifying scale as China and the US battle it out for world dominance and the last drops of oil.
There is art out there I'm sure, which is a reaction to this, but I haven't seen it yet.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Bowdidge on
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That's an interesting comparison that you're making between now and the 20's/30's - I wonder if that art is out there - I hope it is, or was the way that artists responded back then to the impending crisis something which was very much a part of or a product of Modernism in some way? In some those particular strategies are spent now....
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Permalink Reply by Carlos Cuevas on -
"One of the best gauges of a society is to see how it treats it's artists" ...this came from one of my undergraduate instructors, and he was not in the art department... He was out of Ed.
Psy.
That goes both ways I think... it is the duty,or at least the fun, of pushing the public mindset.
In the US their is a region of the country that is called the "Bible Belt", an I have the Pleasure of living in the belt buckle. Their way a local show at a coffee shop and calls of Pron, and Smut were thrown about...
thanks for the invite,
Carlos
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Permalink Reply by Graham Lester George on
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Yes you could be right when you say that theirs was the modernist response, but when someone shouts "THOUGHT POLICE!" It might be too late to consider whether our response is appropriate for our time.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Bowdidge on
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There is that ...
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Permalink Reply by Graham Lester George on
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In reply to Carlos, there is a lot in what you say. Art at some levels has been gathered into the capitalist fold; not only as investment but also to lend a cultural gloss to what is basically ill gotten wealth. Wealth made not only at the expense of unseen millions in the third world, but also at the expense of the large homegrown minority in the US who have low wages and lack proper health care and social security - that in the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world, should be a source of shame!
Any art which becomes effective in raising the consciousness of ordinary people and makes them question the status quo, will probably not be found in the mansions of the super rich collectors.
The religious right is one of the most pernicious influences in America today in that they not only support the aims of the American Empire abroad but seek to undermine democracy and freedom of speech at home by pouring millions into supporting the most right wing politicians as well as so called "think tanks", "research institutes" and other seemingly innocuous bodies which support and promote, what is upon analysis, an anti-democratic agenda.
Did you know that the US is the headquarters of the world's largest privately run mercenary army, with its own military base, twenty aircraft and 20,000 troops? It's owned and run by a multimillionaire christian conservative who also funds Bush and his pals. His name is Eric Prince and the mercenary army is called Blackwater. I wonder what sort of art (if any) he collects?
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Permalink Reply by Carlos Cuevas on
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To Grahan, did you know that during Katrina and the clean-up that Blackwater had their employees sworn in as La. peace officers and ran the streets as a protection force.
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Permalink Reply by Graham Lester George on
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Yes I knew that Carlos. Makes you think of another private army - the Brown Shirts - in 1930s Germany
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Permalink Reply by Paul matosic on -
This is a question that I have been asking myself for many years.
There is art that is made to encourage free thinking, well any sort of thinking really, and then there is art that is .. well it just is, it does nothing.
I think I have outlined this on that other thread so thought I may as well draw these two together saves repeating myself
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Permalink Reply by joe kelly on -
politics and art.......
my work/practice has gotten increasingly political over the last few years, probably because, subconsciously, I need to say something about the inequities and fallacies that are diurnally shoved down our willing throats.....and more fool us for swallowing the twaddle.......once you become aware of these blatent ineptitudes its almost like christmas coming early!!! I have not been stuck for ideas since this realisation dawned on me!!!
whether it makes any difference or not is another matter, 'I' feel better, but I'm not sure if it actually has a positive effect on others or introduces them/makes them think about the issues/problems, and even if it doesn't, I will keep on digging......there are many more skeletons in the proverbial political closet
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Permalink Reply by Nicholas Wright on -
political realisation has in my work only recently if i am honest surfaced within me.... I have always and still do believe it is possible to make beautifull art (trinkits) as some would call htem that also have a political view if you want it but does not chuck it down your throat. I tis their if you wish and if not it can just be a beutifull pattern. This balance is very hard to achieve but i believ why some of the best work is both and none of the above at the same time.
