The 21st century is ripe with socio-economic-political issues. Art is one medium to express dissatisfaction with the current zeitgeist and propel the audience into action. A successful artist connects the audience not only with the piece at hand, but with the deeper meaning of the artwork as it relates to the subtle idiosyncrasies of the current dystopian elements of our world. I love political art that pulls people out of their comfort zone and asks them to question the cultural norms that seem so natural and real to us. Only then can we more objectively examine the fish bowl we reside within.
Stewart (2012) describes this type of artist as an artist with conviction. "Creative people value existing knowledge. Since new ideas are often derived from old ideas, it is foolish to ignore or dismiss the past. However, creative people also love change. Never satisfied with routine answers to familiar questions, they constantly consider new possibilities and often challenge the status quo." (pg. 129).
I'll let the following example speak for itself. Does it make you question a lifestyle you believe is natural or normal?
Wow. Powerful and haunting.
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