Denigration of Sociopolitical Messages in Art and Entertainment: A Tool of Stagnation

[mikkel_the_dane]

We can see politics in anything if we are so inclined, just as we can see sex or religion in anything if we are so inclined. And these days a lot of people are so inclined. But art is very rarely intended to address those areas of engagement, and when it does, it's usually bad art. They more likely show up tangentially as the artists are members of society, and do have a political, religion, and sexual presence in the world. And that we can sometimes see expressed in their artworks as a part of the whole.

Well, it is politics as it is what really matters and how to do I, you, we and them.

 

[SomeRandom]

We can see politics in anything if we are so inclined, just as we can see sex or religion in anything if we are so inclined. And these days a lot of people are so inclined.

I would mostly agree. We are more inclined to look for political messaging. Especially if you enjoyed media studies and/or English in high school. And I did lol
But I think it’s also because art and media studies are fairly mainstream these days.
Well they seem to be anyway.
Not only because it’s taught in schools, but because a lot of streamers and media personalities are starting to favour such studies. And sure that’s mainly in geeky spaces, admittedly but thanks to the internet everyone can join in from the comfort of their homes.
The public have somewhat infiltrated the artsy circles. For better or worse lol

But art is very rarely intended to address those areas of engagement, and when it does, it's usually bad art. They more likely show up tangentially as the artists are members of society, and do have a political, religious, and sexual presence in the world. And that we can sometimes see expressed in their artworks as a part of the whole.

Whilst I largely agree. There are certain overtly political classics that I think still count as “good art.” If only because to say they aren’t would get you slapped by any artsy educator lol

I mean you going to call The Inferno by Dante not good art?
I’ll admit that I’m not personally a fan of the trilogy, but I would never accuse mr Dante of not being a good artist either. I mean his politics weren’t exactly hidden nor were they merely incidental. Indeed they were at the forefront of much of his work. Highlighted and underlined, one might say.

Even authors who went out of their way to claim they weren’t political were largely political. Oscar Wilde comes to mind immediately. There are entire books devoted to examining his political views that his art belied and many analyse why he (supposedly) sarcastically claimed otherwise. Granted I think some of that is reaching a bit, but ehh. Geeks are gonna geek I guess.

Hell Marvel quite literally had a soapbox in their issues. Like no joke many old issues included “Stan’s Soapbox” where Stan Lee would quite literally address the audience and tell them point blank what his views were and why.
Not arguing that Marvel is in the same league as someone like say Homer or Virgil, obviously. But their mark on popular culture is undeniable.
Same with DC and their comics aren’t exactly without politics either. And have not been apolitical since the 30s, same with independent comics for the most part.
(Well okay there was the Hays Code. But you know what I mean.)

I agree that if one merely lets their politics inform their art organically, the end product will be a lot better than someone setting out with the intention of promoting a message with their art. (Though there will be exceptions.)
But politics and art have been bedfellows since the beginning. It’s just that talent is needed to find that balance.