In the article, "Talking Politics 2008", the question was asked to artists working in an incredibly broad range of mediums: Is art political? Despite the artists ranging from all over the world, working in mediums from painting to videography to sculpture, every artist seemed to believe that in a way, all art was somewhat political. Perhaps this is because art is inspired by the world around you, and in a time of incredibly heated political debate and anxiety that accompanied the ongoing wars, many artists found refuge in creating art that expressed their fears and worries. The artists interviewed in this article all seemed to create work that was a reflection on the greater world, but also on how that world affected them, ultimately creating pieces that represented two political viewpoints on the world.
But can political art spark social change? The artists interviewed in this article seemed to have more varied opinions on this question. I guess in a way, it's similar to someone posting something political on Facebook-it's an expression of one's opinion, but will it really change anyone else's viewpoint? While obviously no one has the power to change one's opinions, art does seem to have this power in ways not seen anywhere else. Art is so impactful, such a test of the senses, that it can truly be used as a tool to spark political change. For example, think about the impact of propaganda art--even when it was seemingly spewing nonsense, the impact that the carefully crafted images had on the public was overwhelming. Art is a powerful tool, a tool that can change the world.
But can political art spark social change? The artists interviewed in this article seemed to have more varied opinions on this question. I guess in a way, it's similar to someone posting something political on Facebook-it's an expression of one's opinion, but will it really change anyone else's viewpoint? While obviously no one has the power to change one's opinions, art does seem to have this power in ways not seen anywhere else. Art is so impactful, such a test of the senses, that it can truly be used as a tool to spark political change. For example, think about the impact of propaganda art--even when it was seemingly spewing nonsense, the impact that the carefully crafted images had on the public was overwhelming. Art is a powerful tool, a tool that can change the world.