Art in Protest-Protest in Art

All art is political, but some art is made as a form of protest or to incite an audience to protest. Most often it is both. This course – though far from exhaustive in its coverage – will present a sample of genres (music, plastic arts, theater, dance, installation, photography) in a variety of locations and times to understand how art and artists have engaged in protest. Much of modern art is conceptual, using installations and performance, to communicate. Therefore, we will start the class by turning to T. J. Clark, the preeminent art historian, for his answer to the question, when did modern art begin? This question will lead us to explore the debate on the purpose of art. We will then move to how artists responded to moments of crisis in the early 20th century - world wars, economic depression, and the rise of fascism – because the art that emerged informs much of what we see today. Based on these foundational questions, the class will turn to case studies from around the globe.