Phoenix Business Daily

can someone summarize this article for me like now?

NEW YORK – TO BE RELEVANT, ART must respond to the choices, changes and challenges of these fluid, turbulent times and help create the conditions necessary to transform society and deal with consequences, where the burning issues of the day become the overriding factor in the pursuit of a meaningful popular culture. All artists are active participants in these current cross cultural dynamics and cannot afford to be left out in the cold or live the solitary, isolated existence under the pretentious mask of artistic indifference. To be catalysts for change, artists need to constantly question their own motives, unfair policies affecting creative freedom and one's role in a society; to continuously evolve and not waste valuable time worrying about their reputation after they’re dead. Much as we respect the choices most artists make for themselves, there’s an underlying need for them to document their own times - the sweeping political changes happening around us; to grapple with the issues as they come and try to create art that amplify and project opportunities for change to a larger audience. The enormous impact of Western popular culture on diverse communities worldwide has reached a point where we cannot afford to allow a handful of privileged few to define its form and content without the active participation of socially committed members of the international Arts community. It’s sad to note that the onslaught of American popular culture has marginalized, if not totally wiped out, indigenous cultures in many parts of the world. Poor, underdeveloped countries with rich cultural heritage have been 'touched' by the magic wand of Hollywood and are fighting back its negative impact on their traditional way of life. Cultural amnesia- the loss of traditional values, oral history and indigenous art forms, have now become more prevalent than in the past as more and more ethnic communities are quick to adapt what they see on the screen as 'progress' and accept it to be far better than what they have had for centuries. I hope the scheduled conference on social theory, on politics and the arts would address these concerns to be able to institute necessary changes to safeguard the integrity of indigenous communities. The upcoming 33rd Conference on Social Theory, Politics and the Arts is a continuing dialogue by participants drawn not only from artists in the visual, performing, written and multi media arts but also from a broad range of disciplines that include sociology, political science, management, economics, law, urban planning and policy studies. Hosted by The New York foundation for the Arts, The Arts Council of Manhattan, the NYU Roberts Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and the Research Center for Leadership in Action, this year's conference aims "to explore new trends, practices and public policy issues affecting and shaping the arts around the world." Last March, I had the privilege of taking part in an art exhibition at a Chelsea gallery in NYC and was glad to see quite a number of artworks that explored the political realities of American life, skillfully calculated to question and disturb viewers from their private complacency. There is no question that the New York art scene has been regarded as the crystal ball of new things to come; unfortunately, the current crop of art pieces had nothing much to say and even failed miserably to amuse. Despite living in the shadows of 9/11, political art in NYC is still groping in the dark ages, seemingly destined to be graffiti outside gallery walls. Quite a number of NY-based artists I’ve met, whose works revolve around the current political debates, lament that most art galleries won't dare touch 'political art' with the proverbial ten feet pole. Art galleries are primarily business driven and understandably more concerned with their return of investments. Unfortunately some even expound that myth that artists should stay away and be apolitical, to paint only decorative, 'saleable' pieces that would go well in upscale condo units. What gets hanged or not hanged in galleries have a great impact on popular culture and most galleries would cringe at anything resembling 'breaking news' from war zones. But for most artists to continue doing what they’re good at, they have to live on their art. But since the market for political art, if one has to survive on it, is not much, this could initially discourage some artists from investing much of their creative time on it. Hopefully gallery owners would realize that political art has its niche in our lives. In contrast is the swelling tide of books on current political debates. I can't help but envy those writers and publishing houses that dare focus their efforts and resources to bring about the truth regardless of consequences. Whistleblowers, anti-war groups, civil disobedience advocates and environmental activist are all having a field day. These writers have successfully rammed their political views

Public Comments

1. Too much for my eyes! Ahh!