Here is a question, do artists have a duty to be activists? It is a huge question. Some might answer that their art is personal, a place of retreat in a busy life, a stressful world. It could be argued that maintaining an independent identity is a form of activism, rebellion in a society where governments might appreciate conformity or apathy as a simpler one to govern. Is this a cynical opinion? Perhaps.
To be nobody-but-yourself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.
Well, yesterday I spent the day demonstrating for Gaza, for Palestine, nine months into a genocide that continues without consequence. What is happening is horrific, the impunity with which it is happening is something unreal.
I was approached and challenged, refused to engage and was called an anti-Semite, For what, protesting against thousands of deaths? ‘Oh those figures aren’t real’. I walked away, ‘Today is about Palestine, not arguing with people who don’t want to listen’. I have spoken with others like this man before, lies, misinformation, denials, insults. I have lost so much respect for the so called great and good, who chose to say something and do nothing. All this brought me to this question, do artists, (I include all forms of art, I am a poet) have a duty to be activists?
Henning Mankell is one of my favourite writers, his Swedish detective Wallander became a friend. Mankell was an activist for all his adult life. In 2010 he was onboard one of the Gaza flotilla ships which was attacked by Israeli troops, killing nine Turkish activists. At the time of the flotilla attack, he stated that believed that the “Israeli military went out to commit murder”. He admonished fellow writers and intellectuals saying,
You have to act, not just by writing, but by standing up and doing. For me, you cannot call yourself an intellectual if all you use your intellectual gifts for is to find excuses not to do anything. Which, sadly, is what I think a lot of intellectuals do.
There are many reasons why artists don’t stand up, and if do they may be and often are heavily punished. Some might argue that this only happens in countries with totalitarian governments. Unfortunately this is not the case, look at the artists who have been cancelled for supporting Palestine. Ai Weiwei was a western darling when his art took a justified stance against his government, but when he supported Palestine, his London exhibition was cancelled.
Censorship in West exactly the same as Mao’s China
My little experience does not really matter, but rather I somewhat have to speak out. An artist has the responsibility to do that
Artists have often depended on institutions or wealthy patrons for their livelihood, which has affected their independent voice. Censorism is not a new phenomenon. Although it is a jarring truth in a liberal sociey.
Do artists have a duty to be activists? I have posed this question three times, and my answer is for me, yes. There is a price, and some do not want or are unable to pay it. To those I say, take heart, take courage, it will be repaid.
“In a time of universal deceit – telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
George Orwell.
We need truth-tellers more than ever, we need your voice. We are waiting.
Bonnie Braw Press 