Art is Political
Since the dawn of humanity, creation has always pushed innovation forward. It has given us the right to share, explore, (exploit), and spread messages and stories from one generation to the next.
Art has always fueled the human spirit at parties, political meetings, and after school debates about the latest gadget, music, or grief/angry towards an educator and or classmate. In recent events, a question that constantly resurfaces, tests the boundaries of humanity and the form of creation: is art political?
More than many would say, yes, yes it is. But there are the incredulous few that disagree.
For instance, when one says to separate the art from the artist. While in one capacity this would make sense, because if you were to do research on a dictator or long deceased author and use their work to do so without the use of your own personal bias or the common bias that they were indeed an awful human being to begin with, again, it would make sense. You’re clearly separating the work from the creator to determine a conclusion without your own personal bias put in the mix.
Similar to when you would write a paper or thesis for school and or work.
But in another capacity if you were to say that: “oh, but I love their books! I can’t not read their books, or not enjoy their art!” you’re entitled to your opinion, but if those books or art bring a comfort to you, then we need to dive back as to why that joy or comfort helps you to separate your reality from fantasy.
We all escape to a fantasy, whether in a novel, show, movie, or the distant romanticized past.
As a writer, I often draw back to my own books and daydreams when I need that release from reality’s harsh grip. But even still, as I put pen to paper, fingers to the keyboard, bits of reality seep into the story. Seeing how the characters interact with their world and its own share of injustices, and how it can parallel to my own experiences or the general public experience of a government/country’s actions.
“But what’s happening doesn’t affect me.”
In some way, shape, or form, it is. Every single piece of art you see, every book you read, and even the music you listen to, has been influenced by that creator’s environment, positive and negative. You may find yourself relating to the underlying message or become consumed by a swirl of emotions while dancing to that new song you found on TikTok.
Take the drawing of a house near the beginning of the article: I asked the artist to draw their representation of a house, the sun, and just anything they might find around that house. This individual drew what you see above, influenced by their environment and they asked and I quote, “does it have to be a happy house?” Now, this may be me grasping at straws, but the artist’s representation could be a direct influence of their environment or how they choose to express themselves in this world.
The second drawing in this article, “Treehouse”, was created by an artist who has a more hopeful and optimistic outlook on life. Simple, cut and dry, day and night. A nice happy ‘treehouse’ as they named it while having a hopeful smile on their face. It’s colorful; it’s light.
“I just want to enjoy my books without thinking about politics…”
That’s to be understandable. Again, there’s that need to escape the dark and dreariness of life.
Life sucks, and you need to be able to hold onto something without worrying about this or that. But all of those injustices that your character faces, whether similar to real life or not, someone out there in the world has faced that same injustice. And they’re fighting tooth and nail to keep their rights and semblance of life instead of merely surviving.
You may also enjoy diving into fantasy or fictional novels because you know that the main character will win in the end, albeit the traumatic backstories, destruction, backstabbing betrayal, and obsessive love interests who may or may not end up the villain.
Art is a tool for the voiceless, no matter how grand or small or insignificant to the masses. It’s been used for thousands of years: through war, propaganda, genocide, or for the child stewing at home who can only share their voice through an art medium. Or for the stay-at-home mother who longs for a better life for her and her family whenever she sits at the computer to write epic fantasy novels that draw intrigued people in closer.
Art helps us to discover new parts of ourselves, and the need to know more of our lives and why we combat against our own injustices that spin us around until we can no longer walk. But even then, that won’t stop us. There will always be an artist, writer, adult, teenager, child whose art will speak to us, and give us that clarification that yes, all art is political. And because of that, we aren’t alone in fighting for better lives.
We can escape into fantasy all we want, but if anything, it just fuels the human need to learn, adapt, and consume as much of our environment as possible. As well as to understand one another and reach beyond the limitations put onto us as humans.
We didn’t create anything for nothing. And nothing is exempt from political influence, whether minor or major. Humanity has been given a freedom to create, and to share our influences with the world, or to pass it from one generation to the next. Creation will never die, and to enjoy it in any capacity possible is yet another way for us to hold onto the one thing that can never truly be destroyed. Not now, not hundreds of years ago, nor even over a thousand.
Artwork:
“Corrosion,” by Anonymous #1, February 2025
“Treehouse,” by Anonymous #2, February 2025
*Artwork created by two young artists who shall remain anonymous until the near future.*