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Who is faking it: artists or activists, or both? | 11 comments

[new] being picky (Avg. Score: none / Raters: 0) (#11)
by Marc Herbst on Sat Mar 27th, 2004 at 12:23:29 AM EURODISCORDIA TIME
(User Info) http://www.journalofaestheticsandprotest.org/

While I agree with most that's been said, I have a minor semantic arguement... the goal of engaged cultural workers is to lower the stakes for people to get involved with "political work" while simultaneously improving the field. What I take from Greg Shollettes' dark matter is a joy in the flooding of culture (for a lack of a better word) out to everywhere... and this is something to be fostered. It seems counterintuative to call people out unless their work happens at the expense of others...

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[new] Forms of protest (Avg. Score: none / Raters: 0) (#4)
by Aileen on Tue May 6th, 2003 at 02:01:10 AM EURODISCORDIA TIME
(User Info)

The project republicart includes a collection of essays on art and activist practices, especially involving actions at large-scale protests. Although it is always a point of contention, when is action called for, when is theorizing just so much hot air, I think it is important to keep seeking a balance. Action only for the sake of spectacle too quickly becomes shallow, self-centered, attention-seeking - which makes it less effective. Too much theorizing can be paralyzing, but I think critical reflection is absolutely necessary.

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[new] Holmes' article (Avg. Score: none / Raters: 0) (#2)
by TreborScholz on Mon May 5th, 2003 at 11:44:49 AM EURODISCORDIA TIME
(User Info) http://molodiez.org

Brian Holmes' comments were very specific giving Thomas Hirschorn as dubious example for artists working about social movements in the institutional art context. He asks for genuine involvement with these movements when working about them, a direct support such as that of Ne Pas Plier.

In the few 2-10 second long media reports that actually did pay attention to the more than ten million anti-war protesters, like you, I did not see much art. In the streets of NYC I saw some puppets, signs and performative protesters but was it as impressive as Seattle?

I was more interested in Holmes' favoring of a very particular political art practice while I agree with his criticque of the lack of genuine engagement. And I wondered if art institutions are the best place to achieve
what Brian (and I) want to bring about in terms of social change. And artists are not priviledged in having a particular role in this process. The creation of sustainable communities around specific and urgent issues-- online and off, initiated by artists or not, inside the museum or outside of the box-- seems more effective when we set out to change the way people think and act. And if then we go into the field of art- there is a wide spectrum of practices that contributes to a critical cultural climate.

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Who is faking it: artists or activists, or both? | 11 comments

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