Political Dimension of Art—Aesthetical dimension of Politics

Abstract

In this paper the Author presents the matter of ‘engaged art’ which is being appreciated in contemporary culture. ‘Engaged artists,’ similar to avant-garde movement, are rooted in leftist ideology. This art is an important element of leftist politics. Leftist groups stress the positive value of that art by underplaying negative associations of art and politics. The ‘engaged artists’ purpose is to change the world according to their ideas like improvement of social conditions and creating the social awareness. The importance of art to politics is emphasised by post-Marxist philosopher Chantal Mouffe. In her theory, artistic activity always has a political meaning. On the other hand, in aesthetics theories like Nicolas Bourriaud’s relational aesthetics or Jacques Rancière’s conception of aesthetics as politics, a kind of permanent relation between art and politics is maintained.