Great article! I think the point about thinking of art as ‘demanding propaganda’ really illustrates a great problem with the way art is being consumed in our culture nowadays.. like, people are quite ready to jump to synopsis of movies and form their opinion on whether they agree with the narrative or not, without allowing themselves to experience the narrative.
This is a wonderfully sensitive look at the value of art. It reminded me of what Kundera said of the way novels (and here we can include cinema and all art) stand against tyranny:
“The novel is the imaginary paradise of individuals. It is the territory where no one possesses the truth, neither Anna nor Karenin, but where everybody has the right to be understood, both Anna and Karenin.”
It’s in the affirmation of the individual that art stands against totalitarianism, which attempts to negate the individual by subordinating her to an ideology. In its celebration of pluralism and in transcending absolutes, art stands against the tyrannies of certainty.
An excellent article and the first one I’ve ever felt compelled to print out so I could go over it with a highlighter. This hits on so many questions I’ve struggled with. Thank you.
This is an excellent article! I am going to have to read it again. It is packed with paragraphs I want to quote and sentences I want to write down. Thank you for putting this together!
Marvelous article. Thank you. I found myself wondering if some artists would consider changing just one or two minds is enough. Don’t they say it’s better to create for one person in particular instead of the masses?
I create a weekly story based radio show that explores contemporary issues through dark fantasy and a medieval setting. Your point about perspective over argument resonated with me. It’s very tempting to write about how you think the world should be, more challenging to consider multiple perspectives to a given situation - but perhaps that’s how we can truly come to understand each other.
Always a joy dipping into your perspectives, Thomas, thank you.
Art is the collective imagination and, like dreams do individually, art helps us process the world around us collectively. It’s impossible to make art without a point or a bias because our personal perspectives and opinions come through no matter what, which means the meaning is really about self-awareness and what we do with that awareness. But that’s a bit of a moot point because meaning comes from interpretation which is about audience. In a lot of ways it’s more about what resonates with people in a given moment and why than the art or artist themselves. So from that perspective I see art as an offering to the cultural conversation. This is why some authoritarian leaning groups find it so threatening: it invites conversation that cannot be controlled. But also the culture industry competes with other industries by effectively making jobs from nothing. The natural resource being exploited is imagination and connection which can be very threatening to those who would dominate a given labour market.
Fascinating essay, and so well-articulated. Also, it's telling that when I got to the part about conveying perspectives and revolutionary art, I instinctually thought of Paddington 2.
Great article! I think the point about thinking of art as ‘demanding propaganda’ really illustrates a great problem with the way art is being consumed in our culture nowadays.. like, people are quite ready to jump to synopsis of movies and form their opinion on whether they agree with the narrative or not, without allowing themselves to experience the narrative.
Nicely done. Quite brilliant in fact.
This is a wonderfully sensitive look at the value of art. It reminded me of what Kundera said of the way novels (and here we can include cinema and all art) stand against tyranny:
“The novel is the imaginary paradise of individuals. It is the territory where no one possesses the truth, neither Anna nor Karenin, but where everybody has the right to be understood, both Anna and Karenin.”
It’s in the affirmation of the individual that art stands against totalitarianism, which attempts to negate the individual by subordinating her to an ideology. In its celebration of pluralism and in transcending absolutes, art stands against the tyrannies of certainty.
An excellent article and the first one I’ve ever felt compelled to print out so I could go over it with a highlighter. This hits on so many questions I’ve struggled with. Thank you.
Glad it resonated Jordan! Highly recommend Berger's essays if you connected with this.
This is an excellent article! I am going to have to read it again. It is packed with paragraphs I want to quote and sentences I want to write down. Thank you for putting this together!
Marvelous article. Thank you. I found myself wondering if some artists would consider changing just one or two minds is enough. Don’t they say it’s better to create for one person in particular instead of the masses?
I create a weekly story based radio show that explores contemporary issues through dark fantasy and a medieval setting. Your point about perspective over argument resonated with me. It’s very tempting to write about how you think the world should be, more challenging to consider multiple perspectives to a given situation - but perhaps that’s how we can truly come to understand each other.
Always a joy dipping into your perspectives, Thomas, thank you.
Art is the collective imagination and, like dreams do individually, art helps us process the world around us collectively. It’s impossible to make art without a point or a bias because our personal perspectives and opinions come through no matter what, which means the meaning is really about self-awareness and what we do with that awareness. But that’s a bit of a moot point because meaning comes from interpretation which is about audience. In a lot of ways it’s more about what resonates with people in a given moment and why than the art or artist themselves. So from that perspective I see art as an offering to the cultural conversation. This is why some authoritarian leaning groups find it so threatening: it invites conversation that cannot be controlled. But also the culture industry competes with other industries by effectively making jobs from nothing. The natural resource being exploited is imagination and connection which can be very threatening to those who would dominate a given labour market.
Great article, it was an eye opening article for me.
I have always enjoyed your YouTube videos.These Substack essays are equally insightful and great.
Fascinating essay, and so well-articulated. Also, it's telling that when I got to the part about conveying perspectives and revolutionary art, I instinctually thought of Paddington 2.