SOCIALLY ENGAGED CULTURE
The realm of culture has always been connected to different social issues. However, since the French Revolution, it became clear that culture was a fundamental part of the social order, its reproduction, and its transformation. By refusing large aspects of aristocratic culture, the French revolutionaries continued the work of the Enlightenment, considering that art and cultural activities were key components of a change in society towards freedom and democracy.
Socially engaged art is a form of art that is focused on addressing social and political issues. It is a collaborative effort between artists and communities, with the goal of creating awareness and promoting positive change. Unlike traditional art, socially engaged art is not created for individual expression or aesthetic purposes but rather to engage with and address important issues facing society. Socially engaged art encourages people to think critically about the world they live in. It creates a space for individuals to actively participate in shaping their own communities, blurring the boundaries between art, activism, and community engagement.
The 20th century saw the emergence of numerous socially engaged art movements and projects that addressed pressing social, political, and cultural issues. The most famous were avant-garde movements such as Dada, futurism, surrealism, constructivism, and Bauhaus.
Some of the examples from the second part of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century include:
The Theatre of the Oppressed – developed by Brazilian playwright and director Augusto Boal. It is a theatrical and participatory methodology designed to empower individuals and communities to explore and address social, political, and cultural issues and challenge systems of oppression through the medium of theatre.
The Bread and Puppet Theater – a politically radical puppet theatre, active since the 1960s. The theatre was co-founded by Elka and Peter Schumann. It was active during the Vietnam War in anti-war protests, primarily in New York City, and its enormous puppets (often ten to fifteen feet tall) were a fixture of many demonstrations.
The Freedom Riders – civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into the Southern United States to challenge racial segregation in bus terminals. Their actions and the subsequent response from authorities brought attention to racial inequalities and inspired broader activism.
The Guerilla Girls – an anonymous group of feminist artists who use art to raise awareness about gender and racial inequalities in the art world. Through posters, billboards, and public interventions, they challenge museums, galleries, and institutions to address their lack of diversity and representation.
The Green Belt Movement – founded by Wangari Maathai, used tree planting and environmental conservation as a way to empower women and address ecological and social issues. The movement was initiated in Kenya and later expanded to other African countries.
Graffiti and Street Art – which serve as platforms for social and political commentary. Artists like Banksy have used their work to address topics such as war, capitalism, and human rights, reaching audiences beyond traditional art spaces.
Cultural policy can, in many cases, play a constructive role in supporting the social commitment of cultural producers, provided it has a clear understanding of the social stakes implied by their activity. This presupposes a connection to social science research. In this respect, particular attention should be devoted to the social conditions of access to cultural activity and the diversity of social groups involved. (FL, PC)