Should good art ever have a political slant?

[goblin paste]

I've been inspired to make this thread, as in my "The art world" thread, natesully made a point about indie film being predominately an outlet for overt left-wing rants and sentiments. Being a left-winger myself, you'd think I'd be angered by this comment, but I somewhat agree. For example, when I watch a film that should be a piece of art in itself that has a left-wing slant (Dirty Pretty Things springs to mind,) although I may agree with the point and sentiment (and I'd much rather watch it than some moral-preachery-family-values-Hollywood tripe,) it does not necessarily mean that I think the film was "good art." I've never studied art, so I'm making this post on a whim here, but maybe the best art - the stuff that stands the test of time, for example - doesn't have an agenda, but merely portrays truth transcendent and autonomous of political thought.

Anyone feel they can add or elabourate on my young thoughts?

[Panthrophile]

Good art should convey an idea or feeling. If it's political, so be it.

It seems the left churns out far more than the right. The right lacks passion.

[natesully]

I don't think a film should spurt any kind of truth or philosophy. I enjoy movies like Mad Max and (Duh!) Evil Dead for a reason- they have no politics or meaning, they exist out of comedy, or plain old coolness. Seeing the same corporation=bad, military=bad, etc. plotlines gets more than a little annoying. In Evil Dead, the enemies are... well, evil, and the story of Mad Max is based pretty much on the inevitable future, I suppose the enemy in that case is circumstance.

Oh, and there are right-wing and libertarian biased movies- Red Dawn takes the cake for right wing by far. Just watch it:D . Batman Begins was noticably different- the corporation in the movie is good, and Bruce Wayne does not act on altruistic or political motives- he is simply sick of the scum inhabiting Gotham. The movie contains strong anti-authority / individualistic elements, as does the Batman saga in general.

I agree with Panthrophile- what makes art "good" is portraying a feeling or having a deep meaning. But if I paint the earth on fire, and call it "Global Warming means we're all gonna die", that's not too good, it's simply way too blatant. On the right wing side, Red Dawn got 1/2 a star for a reason. An example of good art would be something like the book, "Lord of the Flies". The author explores a fear almost everyone has- what happens when the constraints of society are removed? It's not that politics can't be involved, it's that there is a line between art and propaganda. Propaganda says, "think my way", art should say, "think".

[goblin paste]

"Propaganda says, "think my way", art should say, "think"."

Aye, maybe that's what I was touching upon.

[Krovisser]

Propaganda says, "think my way", art should say, "think".

/thread.

[resumedocket]

Good art should convey an idea or feeling. If it's political, so be it.

It seems the left churns out far more than the right. The right lacks passion.


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