4 ms·

When is speech, art, culture not political?

kokanator 6y ago
When does an acceptance speech have nothing to do with the award you are receiving? To say everything is political is an easy out. The point is the awards show is supposed to be about the films and to acknowledge those who made it possible not political speeches given in the guise of an acceptance speech.
- Apocryphon 6y ago
  The Oscars have always had this to some degree, though. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/feb/25/before-oscarssowhite-five-previous-academy-awards-controversies https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/feb/25/before-oscarsso...
mezentius 6y ago
Often. Speech, art, and culture do typically encompass politics, because politics are a social activity and therefore a primary concern of the humanities. But the argument that these things are therefore inherently political is specious, and (in my opinion) a product of the increasingly facile approach to the interpretation of art and culture in education that focuses exclusively on the teasing-out of supposed hidden messages and ideologies. (Twitter doesn't help, either.) In mirroring our lives, art and culture encompass layers of complex action and symbols that cannot be reduced to a singular message or call for political action. They are the process by which we sift through an opaque mixture of confusion and contradiction every day, searching for meaning. However, if you wanted to argue that award shows are inherently political, I'd probably agree.
- kokanator 6y ago
  Very well stated. The art should stand by itself for what it is intended and if it, as it should, provides some commentary or some testing of ideas, that is what art has always done and is expected. My argument is specifically regarding the award show and how it has simply turned into a political vehicle for many often with little or no mention of the art by the individual/group which is being awarded.
  - specialist 6y ago
    > ...that is what art has always done and is expected. I'm now very interested to see your works of art. Links?
    - kokanator 6y ago
      @specialist Are you an artist? Do you have links to your art?
- specialist 6y ago
  Examples would bolster your argument.

When does an acceptance speech have nothing to do with the award you are receiving? To say everything is political is an easy out. The point is the awards show is supposed to be about the films and to acknowledge those who made it possible not political speeches given in the guise of an acceptance speech.

Apocryphon 6y ago
The Oscars have always had this to some degree, though. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/feb/25/before-oscarssowhite-five-previous-academy-awards-controversies https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/feb/25/before-oscarsso...

mezentius 6y ago

Often. Speech, art, and culture do typically encompass politics, because politics are a social activity and therefore a primary concern of the humanities. But the argument that these things are therefore inherently political is specious, and (in my opinion) a product of the increasingly facile approach to the interpretation of art and culture in education that focuses exclusively on the teasing-out of supposed hidden messages and ideologies. (Twitter doesn't help, either.) In mirroring our lives, art and culture encompass layers of complex action and symbols that cannot be reduced to a singular message or call for political action. They are the process by which we sift through an opaque mixture of confusion and contradiction every day, searching for meaning. However, if you wanted to argue that award shows are inherently political, I'd probably agree.

kokanator 6y ago
Very well stated. The art should stand by itself for what it is intended and if it, as it should, provides some commentary or some testing of ideas, that is what art has always done and is expected. My argument is specifically regarding the award show and how it has simply turned into a political vehicle for many often with little or no mention of the art by the individual/group which is being awarded.
- specialist 6y ago
  > ...that is what art has always done and is expected. I'm now very interested to see your works of art. Links?
  - kokanator 6y ago
    @specialist Are you an artist? Do you have links to your art?
specialist 6y ago
Examples would bolster your argument.