What IS Socially Engaged Art?
Helicon Collaborative, a business dedicated to mobilizing culture and creativity to make positive change, defines socially engaged art (also, "social practice art" or " new genre public art") as: “artistic or creative practice that aims to improve conditions in a particular community or in the world at large.” This type of art looks different from what many assume "art" to be - some "thing" (drawing, painting, sculpture, etc.) produced independently, in a studio, in isolation, and likely with an enviable amount of technical skill and craft. Instead of a product, socially engaged artists focus on process - one that is designed to affect change. They do this, not alone, but in collaboration with others - and in a public space.
The key element of socially engaged art is the actual participation or experience as opposed to the work itself (if any is produced at all). The act itself - the social engagement - IS the art.
Accepting socially engaged art as "art" requires a shift in understanding and a wider definition of "art." This updated definition of art is actually quite dated by now but its more traditional foil persists.
Especially as some students will struggle with the highly technical skills needed to produce more traditional forms of studio art AND as most students will not have uninterrupted art instruction OR go on to become working artists, this art form may allow alternate opportunities for success and the ability to value art, not always as a product, but as a powerful tool with communicative voice. Also, these socially engaged experiences will allow them to carry forward the concept of social justice, which is much needed in the world today.
The key element of socially engaged art is the actual participation or experience as opposed to the work itself (if any is produced at all). The act itself - the social engagement - IS the art.
Accepting socially engaged art as "art" requires a shift in understanding and a wider definition of "art." This updated definition of art is actually quite dated by now but its more traditional foil persists.
Especially as some students will struggle with the highly technical skills needed to produce more traditional forms of studio art AND as most students will not have uninterrupted art instruction OR go on to become working artists, this art form may allow alternate opportunities for success and the ability to value art, not always as a product, but as a powerful tool with communicative voice. Also, these socially engaged experiences will allow them to carry forward the concept of social justice, which is much needed in the world today.
Watch these videos and consider the following questions:
- Is this ART?
- How is it similar to/different from the type of art that you are used to LOOKING at?
- How is it similar to/different from the type of art that you that YOU make?
- Who is more important - the ARTIST or the AUDIENCE? What's the relationship between the two?
- Explore the terms, "socially engaged" and "activist" in the context of these videos.
- What questions do YOU have?
- What ideas do these projects inspire?
- What issues do you want to address in YOUR art?
- How can socially engaged art help you to do so?!! Would this be a better way to make an impact?
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