On 05/Sep/15 09:59, Randall Packer wrote:
"and relational aesthetics and mediation, interventionist art & good intentions, well. well.”
I think that Johannes was speaking of degrees of action, and I agree with him in that -- despite my own belief in the fundamental energy-based interconnected wholeness of the cosmos -- there are 'artistic' gestures that seem quite useless in the face of the seething mess of madness that we are embedded within as a species. I also see many of these gestures as, if not empty (there is no such concept as not-communicating) but having an effect on the cosmos that is ultimately not helpful to easing the suffering of others. Much art activity seems to move in this direction -- either by being flat-out naively self-absorbed or being wildly ignorant of the actual conditions giving rise to the suffering to begin with. In both cases, the 'intentions' of the work should be questioned and criticized robustly (or the work be simply and utterly ignored).
But of course one can only do what one has the capacity to do -- some have a greater capacity for change than others; a greater capacity for leaving the 'standard' culture and their own lives behind and moving into a differentstate of being; of withstanding the social marginalization inherent in a non-traditional approach to life -- an approach that might change others.
Johannes, briefly: It would be a very sad world indeed if we underestimate the power of art to alter and transform the human spirit. Just because you can’t liberate refugees from the camps doesn’t mean youshould idly sit by and give up all hope. For change begins in every act we make that resonates in other minds and ripples through the social sphere in ways you can never predict.
True, but in so many cases, Randall, I see a lack of mindfulness in the process that initiates 'every act'. And resonance is hard to control in effect. I think one problem with your argument is that you rely on a far-too-worn generalization about art -- yes, it, as any action, changes the world, but change is not ideologically controllable.
Art has been used to promote social norms more often than not... no matter even the intentions of the work. And, in contemporary work, ego and self-promotion is the driver much of the time.
Cheers, JOhn _______________________________________________ NetBehaviour mailing list [email protected] http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour
