I spent a lot of time on Twitter exchanging snark with artists far better than me. The number one topic is usually... well, cats. But after that, it's politics. The above exchange with Shikhee D’iordna of Android Lust* got me thinking about the connection between art and politics.
* Whoops dropped a name, let me just pick that up

When I first set out on my professional writing career, I tried to keep politics out of my blog. It's inviting trolls and other headaches that I don't need during an already uphill struggle. Over time, I began to realize two things: one, that staying silent about individual politicians and countries does not preclude my being a political creature; and two, that the 2016 United States presidential election has such disastrous consequences that it would be malpractice (or worse) to stay quiet. While he's currently being stomped into paste, the idea of a fascist and admitted rapist being one of two finalists for the presidency—an institution that, for right or wrong, holds an enormous amount of sway on the world—is not only disturbing but fundamentally wrong. How did we get to this point as a country? How does this man still have supporters? What the fuck is going on?

But, I digress. Even when not referencing politics directly, artists are fundamentally political creatures. You can't put out any type of art without expressing some sort of opinion. That's just how it works. Whether it be "treat homosexuals as equals to heterosexuals" (LBGT politics) or "hay y'all guys are hot" (sexual politics!), you're saying something. Even art that replicates things realistically is preserving the status quo. (Maybe even glorifying it, as we've no real way to tell how images have been enhanced unless we were there to witness the event.) Plus, there's things like this...




...that question the nature of reality while still presenting perfectly realistic images. There's a lot of ways you can go once you put the artist in charge of representation instead of nature, and sometimes, it's a ride without seat belts.

So, yes, I think "stick to art" and political statements are a complete oxymoron. Whether or not you make it overt or subversive is up to you, but either way, one must raise their voice. We just can't help ourselves. It's what naturally happens when you create.


Featured Music



Supernature (Goldfrapp)

There are not many singers I would describe as an honest-to-gods Force of Nature. Alison Goldfrapp is one of them. The English duo of Goldfrapp and Will Gregory have been cranking out albums since the beginning of the millennium. (Yes, it was 2000, but it's fun to say it the other way.) Supernature is an incredible introduction, as the pounding beat and catchy hooks of Ooh La La and Lovely 2 C U give you an idea of what to expect. Alison Goldfrapp herself is somewhat notorious for her surrealistic stage performances and distinctive outfits; for example, the 2003 tour involved dancers wearing deer heads. Yup. She's toned it down a bit in recent years to avoid eclipsing her music, but she can still melt you into a puddle with her voice. It's just incredible.

Goldfrapp has an album scheduled on 2017 that I'm itching to get my hands on. Until then, Supernature (among others) will tide me over quite well. Click the link or album picture for the official website, or just grab the full album on Spotify and start listening. If you're not at least wiggling around in your chair while listening, you're doing it wrong.