"Should [the artist] vocally support a candidate, or a cause? Why not? But as a citizen, not as an artist. As an American, not as a cultural “figure” or a celebrity. A person’s status an artist doesn’t add credibility to her political views. Her art contributes to the culture as a whole; it has an indirect and tiny, or at best very subtle, political upshot."
This is exactly right. It is also, unlike much theorizing about the political responsibility of the artist, banal. But some truths are banal.
Artists can avoid politics but, unfortunately, politics doesn't avoid artists. Or an of the rest of us. We have been forced into this mess. We will have to force our way out.
I agree, and I believe the truly great writers—Shakespeare, Melville, Whitman, etc.—have a profound impact (far greater than the impact of politicians) when they are NOT taking explicitly political stances. As Shelley wrote, “poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.”
It's refreshing to read a defense of art and the artist as a thing apart from the exercise of power (either rhetorical power or physical power). Art can be political; that's not necessarily a problem. But it doesn't have to be, and it's better for us all when there is plenty of art that is not.
"Should [the artist] vocally support a candidate, or a cause? Why not? But as a citizen, not as an artist. As an American, not as a cultural “figure” or a celebrity. A person’s status an artist doesn’t add credibility to her political views. Her art contributes to the culture as a whole; it has an indirect and tiny, or at best very subtle, political upshot."
This is exactly right. It is also, unlike much theorizing about the political responsibility of the artist, banal. But some truths are banal.
Artists can avoid politics but, unfortunately, politics doesn't avoid artists. Or an of the rest of us. We have been forced into this mess. We will have to force our way out.
I agree, and I believe the truly great writers—Shakespeare, Melville, Whitman, etc.—have a profound impact (far greater than the impact of politicians) when they are NOT taking explicitly political stances. As Shelley wrote, “poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.”
It's refreshing to read a defense of art and the artist as a thing apart from the exercise of power (either rhetorical power or physical power). Art can be political; that's not necessarily a problem. But it doesn't have to be, and it's better for us all when there is plenty of art that is not.
What a great piece. And you pull it together at the end so well, and so clearly (perhaps you have a calling as a writer… 😏)
I strongly suspect we are of fairly different political persuasions.
My even stronger suspicion is that younger people, especially those who share your political persuasion, will react strongly negatively to this piece.
More’s the pity.