“Art has become so political these days,” seems to be a common sentiment among Facebook posts and families exiting movie theatres. On social media, many celebrities found on TV shows or hit albums post about topics they care about, which often relate to politics or current events. Many consumers have expressed their preference for media without agenda and celebrities to stay silent in the hopes of keeping the ideas of art and advocacy separate. While this is a tempting notion, the best art has intention, direction and meaning, which only comes from personal beliefs and convictions. Creativity naturally contains passion, which can be used to bring forth change in a fresh and beautiful way.
One benefit to celebrities providing awareness for current events is that many people do not follow news sources, and instead get most of their pop culture information from the social media of their favorite actor. When those artists post articles about events or conflicts, it gives a side of society that doesn’t usually engage with the news an opportunity to learn about what is going on in the world, as well as develop empathy for causes that they may not have been previously exposed to. Teenagers who find the news boring and lack an outlet to injustice might pay more attention and find connection if they hear about it from their favorite singer’s Instagram. While people should be cautious about only receiving information from one source, this often sparks an idea or a care that can be grown through further research and interest, all of which is started through an artist’s influence.
A current example of this long-established phenomena is a movement called Artists4Ceasefire, which is a collection of actors and other prominent figures that wrote a letter to President Biden, urging him to call for a ceasefire between the nations of Israel and Palestine. Poets, actors and musicians alike drafted a letter that outlines the conflict and the many tragedies experienced by both sides in the hopes of giving some perspective and citizen input. The letter, while urging change for the present, also takes the future into consideration, saying that the celebrities “…refuse to tell future generations the story of our silence.” So far, the Biden administration has not made a comment about the letter, and continues with their previous policy of “unwavering support for Israel.” While these celebrities are not trying to change Biden’s mind about which side he is supporting, they seek to bring more nuance to the situation in a way that honors the tragedies suffered on both sides. Actors and authors alike tell stories and create human connection for a living, so it makes sense that this practice would carry into their personal lives as well. They have a right to use their platform for higher causes, and because the signatures at the end of the letter are household names, their words carry great weight and catch society’s attention in a way that many other people would not.
This notion is not restricted to successful names and large platforms. On campus, theatre professor Dr. Bob offers a biannual course called “The Art of Advocacy,” which shows how various creative mediums are used for catalysts for change, and how different artists throughout history have used their craft to fight injustices. Students at the end of the semester are challenged to enact this in their own lives, which resulted in a performance of “The Lorax” using recycled materials as props, quotes and statistics about human trafficking around campus and an emotional short movie about mental health. This allowed an opportunity for students to tap into their creative and empathetic nature and advocate for causes in a way that catches the campus’ attention.
Art is inherently advocacy, and advocacy is inherently an art. To attempt to separate them is to deny their true nature. While certain art might not reflect someone’s own personal convictions, it is important to remember that everyone has a right to share their beliefs. This is also not just the job of artists: everyone has the capability and responsibility to advocate for what they are passionate about, which is made more effective and more beautiful when done creatively.
