Abstract
This paper challenges conventional views of socially engaged art and community-based practices, advocating for art’s autonomy while fostering radical change. The research objectives are to critically examine the contemporary demand for art’s integration into society and offer an alternative perspective that avoids institutionalisation. The practical relevance lies in redefining the role of the arts in shaping society and promoting meaningful change, bridging the gap between autonomy and political commitment. Drawing from both analytic philosophy of art (specifically, “ethical criticism of art”) and the “political criticism of art” taken from Sartre and Adorno, this paper contributes to the academic field by introducing the concept of “dialectical ethicism”: a unique aesthetic framework for harmonising aesthetic autonomy and political commitment. Qualitative research methods, including interviews with art collectives, inform this study’s approach. It critically examines the contemporary context (evident in the Turner Prize 2021, British Art Show 2021 and Documenta 15, 2022) that informs a rejection of artistic expertise in favour of egalitarian processes to uncover a dialectical tension: one that necessitates the careful reinstatement of artistic authorship while maintaining sincere political ambitions and signification. These conclusions underline the potential for art to drive meaningful political change without compromising its aesthetic autonomy. This work not only redefines the relationship between the arts and society but also offers a foundation for future research in this domain.
Presenters
Martin LangMA Fine Art Course Leader and Senior Lecturer, Fine Art, University of Lincoln, United Kingdom
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
The Arts in Social, Political, and Community Life
KEYWORDS
Art Activism, Socially Engaged Art, Aesthetics, Militancy, Autonomy, Expertise
