The Artist as the Revolutionary
Art for art’s sake
was the most selfish and lazy philosophy
ever defended.
Art for art’s sake,
is lazy.
Art is an available tactic,
a potential means to the ends
of revolution.
Art that only exists for itself
is selfish.
Art is a means,
a means of production,
and all means,
all tactics,
all resources
belong to the people
not the patrons.
Pretty pictures,
edgy statues,
all meaningless
when it’s expression just for expression’s sake.
I do not scorn the schools of art,
I simply point out truth,
as all artists should.
The personal is political
and art, good art at least, is very personal.
Art must be, nay, Art is,
more than an outlet,
it is a tool,
escapist art is a distraction.
The artist,
The visionary,
The revolutionary,
has a duty to their public.
Art is revolutionary
and so should be the artist.
James J Jackson 