THE ART IN PROPAGANDA

by Gaby Martinez

There was a time when nations went into war, and each day, the fear of death lingered among the innocents. It was World War I after all: soldiers died on the battlefield, children lost their chances at youth, and civilians suffered military and economic consequences. In the midst of fear and chaos stood the presence of art: art that mobilized hatred against the enemy, art that convinced the population of the justness of war, art that enlisted active support - propaganda art.

Art has always been intertwined with the dangerous world of politics, and it is constantly reformed to cater to the social conditions and circumstances of the people. Activism art, in particular, seems to be the bridge wherein advocacy and artistry meet, as activism art serves as the visual representation of the efforts to create social change. Frankly, what social reformation cannot put into words is what art is capable of instilling and expressing.

Art by Angeles

In the last few months, numerous social movements have arisen and amassed significant attention on both social media and the local news. Hashtags, petitions, and donation funds were created as platforms for the public to advocate and support movements such as Black Lives Matter, Free Palestine, Junk Terror Bill, and many more. As a way to further raise awareness of the ongoing crises around the world, artists have created and shared their works on a variety of platforms. Such works vary from the mockery of political figures all the way to pieces that urge the public to reckon certain laws and policies.

Despite the continuous rising of activism art at present, its vitality can be seen throughout the course of history. Evidence of this can be traced all the way back to the Nazis and the creation of works that glorified political regimes, as well as the documentaries of Civil Rights activists that entailed the prejudice against African Americans governed under white supremacy. Both events introduced social consciousness to the people and prompted the public to critique political injustices and revolt against a system that violates basic human rights.

As Edgar Degas once stated, “Art is not what you see but what you make others see.” One can use their talents and abilities to create pieces that illuminate social change and provide a voice to the voiceless. Art is very much a spectrum as it is not subjective nor bound to any limits. Inevitably, activism art further proves that art has an impact on society and is influential enough to challenge traditional boundaries and dispose of those in power.