The (Non)Significance of Art in the Political thought

The race for the presidency is coming closer to a resolution and it's an important time in history. We live in a time when there is no incumbant candidate, much of the country SEEMS dissatisfied with the party in power, and there is a good chance that we could have a minority president. All this is fascinating accept for one thing...there is no cultural side to this climate of political tension and upheaval.

One need only take a cursory look at the popular artists of today to see that I am correct. Flo Rida? Beyonce? Finger Eleven? Would the political endorsement of someone like the ex-singer from Destiny's Child really mean anything? Yeah, it probably would, and that's weird. These so called stars control a lot of cultural capital and if they were to take some sort of stand it would mean something. But they won't and couldn't even if they would. Today's celebrities are known for different things and for different reasons. To be intellectually present would dent what they mean to our society as modern day celebrities. Socially relevant celebrities, especially musicians, are a dead species.

Now, you may say, that artists and film makers are still able to make political statements. You might be right but when you examine the position of an artist or a filmmaker (or an actress or a musician for that matter) it doesn't matter whether or not they are capable of being culturally relevent for one simple reason: making political or social statements through film, music, media, or art is cowardly and lacks ambition. Why? Because the audience reached through these mediums is either not looking to hear a political statement, doesn't care if they do, or they are not in a position to do anything about the proposed prolem.

The best example of ths is somebody like Jack Johnson. Johnson's songs are laced with social commentary about commercialism, greed, and political strife. But how many of his fans notice? How many care? How many are willing to do anything? They're great songs, and he has great points, but essentially he is talking to the wrong people.

Another example is the recent catchphrase involving milkshakes and a certain movie. Filmmakers will be confused and disgusted by the (mis)appropriation of this line from a very serious movie. That movie is hitting an audience that can't effectively deal with the themes it evokes effectively accept for laughing at a perhaps absurd line. The misappropriation itself is funny to me and so is the intelligensia's distates for the misappropriation.

Look, the point is that if you want to say something say it. Let us not, as a nation, veil our feelings behind paint, metaphor, and lighting any more. What our country needs now is an open and honest discussion about the skeletons in our closets. Not only that but if you want to make something happen singing about it will not get you anywhere. We no longer have time to worry about the modern celebrities (even if they are wearing flak jackets in IRAQ) when we've got many more non-celebrities wearing no flak and actually getting shot at. Will we all feel silly when there are no more polar bears but we know minutes after the fact when some famous fool drives drunk. It's a crazy mixed up world out there, let's get our priorities straight. Let us be honest with ourselves.

Dead Pedro