politics and art
DM
first I thought there must be something about the creative personality
that was attracted to politics, particularly radical politics. Artists
of all kinds, painters, poets, musicians, they all seem to hold forth
on political issues when given the chance to speak. Why is this?
Is the creative personality really drawn inexorably toward the lunatic
fringe of politics? Is there something about people with the urge to
create or perform art that predisposes them toward demanding an
Australian Republic, or saving the legless lizard? Or chaning
themselves to trees, sitting in other peoples offices in protest,
seeking to legalise more drugs of addiction and so on?
Do the Arty types really have more compassion for the plight of
illegal immigrants, women, homosexuals etc than the rest of society?
They certainly take more of an opportunity to slip in comments on
these kind of issues when interviewed than the average person.
I base this observation on countless hours listening to ABC radio as I
travel around my new workplace. The ABC takes the trouble to let many
artists have a say about their work and their lives, and a very high
percentage of them describe their work in terms of political
motivation. This painting was inspired by the plight of the original
owners of Australia, that sculpture was based on the artists feelings
concerning refugees, and you can just see the overwhelming emotions of
the others denunciation of homophobia in the lastest basketweaving.
Why do so many art works have political overtones, at least in the
artists description of the work.
Well, after listening to yet another artist waffling on about
Australia's rejection of the republic meaning we weren't "grown up
enough" as a nation, it finally struck me:
Politics is just a marketing gimmick for artists.
In the same way that the voluptuous female who has nothing to do with
automotive engineering is draped over the latest model car, politics
is draped over art.
The car manufacturer *could* do an ad featuring just the car and say
"We've just created a new model, please buy it so we don't go broke"
The artist *could* say "I've just done a new painting, please buy it
so I can buy groceries this week".
But they don't.
Both the car sales team and the artist use subliminal messages to sell
their product. Both sell a feeling, not a product. The chance to
become a part of a fantasy without all the trouble of actually being
part of the reality.
Instead of thinking "Oh God, another pot that looks like its been
melted in a nuclear test" we think "My God, how that artist must be
suffering for his stance on the <#include issue>, and s/he still finds
the time to create art"
The issue gets inextricably bound to the product and the purchaser
buys a feeling that may have nothing whatsoever to do with the item
purchased.
Politics is arts marketing gimmick. Without the gimmick much of the
art would remain unsold.
Of course the flipside is that buying, or just talking about art
allows people be politically trendy without all the bother of finding
out about the issues.
A kind of social lubricant.
So its not all bad.
But its something to think about next time you hear an artist waffling
on about land rights for gay whales instead of the difficulty in
mastering complex artistic techniques.
And, of course, it solves the mystery of how people can make a living
out of moulding oddly shaped pots.
David Moss
personal opinion only
netvegetable
news:fa5b13c7.01112...@posting.google.com:
> The link between politics and art has puzzled me for some time. At
> first I thought there must be something about the creative personality
> that was attracted to politics, particularly radical politics. Artists
> of all kinds, painters, poets, musicians, they all seem to hold forth
> on political issues when given the chance to speak. Why is this?
>
Art reflects life.
> Is the creative personality really drawn inexorably toward the lunatic
> fringe of politics? Is there something about people with the urge to
> create or perform art that predisposes them toward demanding an
> Australian Republic, or saving the legless lizard? Or chaning
> themselves to trees, sitting in other peoples offices in protest,
> seeking to legalise more drugs of addiction and so on?
>
> Do the Arty types really have more compassion for the plight of
> illegal immigrants, women, homosexuals etc than the rest of society?
>
> They certainly take more of an opportunity to slip in comments on
> these kind of issues when interviewed than the average person
[snip]
>
> Why do so many art works have political overtones, at least in the
> artists description of the work.
>
Art reflects life.
Artists often wish to make a statement about the times in which they live.
It's a form of testimony. It's the same as the caveman's pictures of fellow
men chasing buffalo. Like poets, they crave immortality.
[snip]
> Politics is just a marketing gimmick for artists.
>
> In the same way that the voluptuous female who has nothing to do with
> automotive engineering is draped over the latest model car, politics
> is draped over art.
>
> The car manufacturer *could* do an ad featuring just the car and say
> "We've just created a new model, please buy it so we don't go broke"
>
> The artist *could* say "I've just done a new painting, please buy it
> so I can buy groceries this week".
>
> But they don't.
>
> Both the car sales team and the artist use subliminal messages to sell
> their product. Both sell a feeling, not a product. The chance to
> become a part of a fantasy without all the trouble of actually being
> part of the reality.
>
You are making the mistake of assuming that artists create for money. They
do not.
I know plenty of artists who work part time just so they can afford the
rent, and spend the rest of their time scratching away working on their
various projects. I know people who have spent their whole lives this way,
and will probably continue to do so.
--
"You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether
a man is wise by his questions." Naguib Mahfouz
Andrew D
d-m...@adfa.edu.au (DM) wrote:
+The link between politics and art has puzzled me for some time. At
+first I thought there must be something about the creative personality
+that was attracted to politics, particularly radical politics. Artists
+of all kinds, painters, poets, musicians, they all seem to hold forth
+on political issues when given the chance to speak. Why is this?
+
+Is the creative personality really drawn inexorably toward the lunatic
+fringe of politics? Is there something about people with the urge to
+create or perform art that predisposes them toward demanding an
+Australian Republic, or saving the legless lizard? Or chaning
+themselves to trees, sitting in other peoples offices in protest,
+seeking to legalise more drugs of addiction and so on?
+
+Do the Arty types really have more compassion for the plight of
+illegal immigrants, women, homosexuals etc than the rest of society?
[snip]
Your focus is too narrow. There are many artists who don't take every
opportunity to make political statements - it's just that the political
types are the ones the media picks up.
I am an artist and I'm certain no one would declare me to be outspoken on
political issues. Well, maybe I'm not the best example but there are
artists who paint, sculpt, whatever because they actually enjoy creating
beautiful things (or incredibly ugly and unfathomable things in many
cases).
Sometimes there is a subliminal political message but that might not be
the initial reason for the creation. For example, I paint the Karri Trees
of WA's southwest. My paintings are like tree "portraits" and do sort of
put the trees on a pedestal. There is no doubt that our Karri forest is
also a political hot potato and I hope that by capturing the beauty of the
forest on canvas I also do my bit for the conservationist side of the
debate. But that is not my primary reason for painting the forest. I do it
because I can see beauty and grandeur and feel the urge to try and capture
it as best I can.
I don't know if the conservationist in me makes me want to paint the trees
or if the artist in me wants me to conserve them.
Many artists have a heightened sense of "awareness" and probably with that
comes compassion - and indeed "passion" - and this might explain why some
artists appear to be out of touch with the wider community (or what you
call "reality"). We/they don't always see things the way the non-artist
sees them.
Andy D.
"I'm a great speller - but a hopless tpyist!"
Mark Addinall
>
> The link between politics and art has puzzled me for some time. At
Shouldn't. Been around for a very long time.
> And, of course, it solves the mystery of how people can make a living
> out of moulding oddly shaped pots.
Relax Dave, you escaped canberra. Enjoy the sun :-)))
Mark.
>
> David Moss
> personal opinion only
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DM
> d-m...@adfa.edu.au (DM) wrote in
> news:fa5b13c7.01112...@posting.google.com:
>
> > The link between politics and art has puzzled me for some time. At
> > first I thought there must be something about the creative personality
> > that was attracted to politics, particularly radical politics. Artists
> > of all kinds, painters, poets, musicians, they all seem to hold forth
> > on political issues when given the chance to speak. Why is this?
> >
>
> Art reflects life.
Nice theory but I'm not sold on it.
Sure art reflects life, thats what some of it is meant to do. What I'm
on about is the tenuous links many artists seem to make between their
work and radical politics. Or even if they do not they take the
opportunity of an interview to let everyone know how deeply they feel
about <#include issue> even when it has nothing top do with the actual
artwork at all.
They take the opportunity not to say "Look at me, I'm a great artist
who created these great art works" but "Look at me, I'm an artist who
cries nightly over the plight of the stolen generations".
[cut]
> You are making the mistake of assuming that artists create for money. They
> do not.
Some do. I suggest the ones who do market their work aggressively
often link their identity to a political view or issue.
>
> I know plenty of artists who work part time just so they can afford the
> rent, and spend the rest of their time scratching away working on their
> various projects. I know people who have spent their whole lives this way,
> and will probably continue to do so.
More power to them.
Personally I write computer programs and websites and call that art.
I could probably make a living from it but I choose income security
instead. A personal choice.
If I did switch to creative programming I'd probably link my identity
to something controversial and political so people would remember me.
Sure I'd alienate 30% of my target market this way, but having 70%
remember me when they wanted a creative program or website, I could
live with that. And probably quite well too!
My contention isn't that _all_ artists cynically link their identity
to politics, but that the loud ones who push themselves in front of
the media do.
I was casting around for a reason and I still think I've found it.
DM
Synic
>Why do so many art works have political overtones, at least in the
>artists description of the work.
>Politics is just a marketing gimmick for artists.
Considering how few live "arty" artists (as opposed to commercial
artists) make any money, why would they bother? The ones who've sold
their souls get into advertising. The ones who don't, do art for the
love of it or as an excuse to meet people.
It's funny how people change. You seem to be getting into conspiracy
theories in your old age ;-).
--
Synic (sometimes cynical)