Something Completely Different

Quote
CrashCourse
Feb 6, 2025

QuoteArt and politics may seem like mortal enemies, but they're more like best frenemies forever. In this episode of Crash Course Political Theory, we take a trip back in time to see how artists have shaped political perceptions and how politicians have tried and failed to stop them.

Crash Course Political Theory #12

QuoteIntroduction: Barbie & Beyoncé 00:00
Art & Plato 0:57
Art & the Nazi Regime 3:07
Committed Art 5:51
Autonomous Art 8:03
Confederate Statues 9:21
Review & Credits 11:29

As to the warning: why not?

As to the question: art has always been political. Even back in the Renaissance, painters would regularly paint (or be told to paint) famous political figures into their work, often in the guise of saints or heroes. Art was, then, a way for a man to become immortal, and if he was paying for the damn thing, you can bet your life it was going to have him in it! If art/music was not political, it would not be able to make any impact on the way we think about politics. Songs like "Eve of Destruction", "The End" and "Biko" all succeeded because the artists threw aside the usual fare of pop music and decided to speak directly to their consumer and ask them if they saw the world the way they did, or had even thought about it? There have been some amazing political songs down through the decades, as well as books and poems, and movies too. When the dancing and the loving and the motorbikes and beer songs are all done, these are the ones we remember, the ones that made us think, and maybe, for some of us, (not me) made us actually take part in politics, wanting to do something about it.

An interesting point about "Biko" is that when the record label heard it, they thought "Has Peter (Gabriel, in case you didn't know) lost it? Who is going to want to hear about some dead South African guy?" Answer: everyone. "Biko" is now not only one of Gabriel's most-loved songs, but could be said to have kicked off a whole new awareness about apartheid and injustice around the world.

So obviously art doesn't HAVE to be political - there are plenty of good songs, movies, books etc that have no political bias or slant at all, and they don't lose by it - but there's absolutely nothing wrong with music that makes you think, question, and perhaps act.

Quote from: Trollheart on Feb 07, 2025, 10:56 PMAs to the warning: why not?

As to the question: art has always been political. Even back in the Renaissance, painters would regularly paint (or be told to paint) famous political figures into their work, often in the guise of saints or heroes. Art was, then, a way for a man to become immortal, and if he was paying for the damn thing, you can bet your life it was going to have him in it! If art/music was not political, it would not be able to make any impact on the way we think about politics. Songs like "Eve of Destruction", "The End" and "Biko" all succeeded because the artists threw aside the usual fare of pop music and decided to speak directly to their consumer and ask them if they saw the world the way they did, or had even thought about it? There have been some amazing political songs down through the decades, as well as books and poems, and movies too. When the dancing and the loving and the motorbikes and beer songs are all done, these are the ones we remember, the ones that made us think, and maybe, for some of us, (not me) made us actually take part in politics, wanting to do something about it.

An interesting point about "Biko" is that when the record label heard it, they thought "Has Peter (Gabriel, in case you didn't know) lost it? Who is going to want to hear about some dead South African guy?" Answer: everyone. "Biko" is now not only one of Gabriel's most-loved songs, but could be said to have kicked off a whole new awareness about apartheid and injustice around the world.

So obviously art doesn't HAVE to be political - there are plenty of good songs, movies, books etc that have no political bias or slant at all, and they don't lose by it - but there's absolutely nothing wrong with music that makes you think, question, and perhaps act.

idk why I added that lol 

i meant like since America is so divided the powers that be would come after me for posting  :'(

Specifically talking music. 

I have no problem with an artist being political with their songs.  It is my choice to listen but I do question how much it even matters.  Did Queen's "Put Out The Fire" change gun laws?

As far as music goes, I don't mind the occasional political song but the more political an artist is, the less interested I am in listening to them.

Quote from: Psy-Fi on Feb 18, 2025, 04:37 PMAs far as music goes, I don't mind the occasional political song but the more political an artist is, the less interested I am in listening to them.

Yeah same for me, especially in Hip-Hop, where it's extremely played out now. Political Hip-Hop has got to be one of the most boring genres going.

Ah I don't know. As I say, it can open your eyes. For instance, I didn't know anything about Steve Biko till I heard Peter Gabriel's song (I thought it was Biko, to rhyme with psycho, and was about someone who loved bikes!)  :laughing: so I suppose it depends on how the message is delivered. Political and anti-war songs go hand in hand of course, and who would deny the effectiveness of "War" or "Give Peace a Chance" or even "Russians"? I like artists who have something to say. I like to learn and have my eyes opened.

Quote from: jimmy jazz on Feb 18, 2025, 06:23 PMYeah same for me, especially in Hip-Hop, where it's extremely played out now. Political Hip-Hop has got to be one of the most boring genres going.

Funny you say this because the in the early days of hip hop around the origins being conscious, political and heavy story telling was part of the roots of the genre. Sure there were party anthems but societal issues were a big chunk of it too.

Quote from: DJChameleon on Feb 19, 2025, 11:31 AMFunny you say this because the in the early days of hip hop around the origins being conscious, political and heavy story telling was part of the roots of the genre. Sure there were party anthems but societal issues were a big chunk of it too.

I like more of the early stuff like Public Enemy, NWA etc. But it's just boring when you get people doing it now.

All art is political.

And all politics is art.

Oh no wait: I meant to say, all politicians are piss artists.

everything is inherently political given that politics dip into every aspect of life.  even if you aren't obviously political in your art, you are saying something political.  even if that something is "apathy"

also check out Crass.  if you don't listen already or whatever and shit

The sentiments I most agree with in this thread are from the guys who mention "boring" about songs with an overt political message: either they are from the outset, or they get boring really fast. I think it's largely because not many of us want to be lectured at while we listen.

To record a political song that people want to hear again and again is a real challenge, but some artists meet the challenge and succeed. The successes, I suspect, are not so much about some temporary or partisan issue, but the songs that invite us to examine our personal political conscience. Here are some songs that fit that category and bear repeated listening imo:-

Lots of early Dylan and Woody Guthrie songs. Lots of Fela Kuti songs and lots of Roger Waters songs (incl. P. Floyd in its Final Cut/Animals days).

Some individual Special Merit mentions:-
Strange Fruit - Nina Simone
Imagine - John Lennon
Fixing To Die Rag - Country Joe & The Fish

And one that deserves to be better known because of all the clever, uncomfortable questions it asks:-

________________________________________________

Regarding Quantum's opening question, "Should Art Be Political?", my answer would be that it's a mistake to say that art "should" be anything. My feeling is that Art has won the right to be whatever it wants to be; it's an area where freedom of expression wins out over almost all "shoulds " and "shouldn'ts".

I think the real question is, who is this Art person anyway, and what has he done to incite so much debate about whether or not he should be political?