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Art & Politics
Introduction to Political Ideas
Fall 2008
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Overview
Definition Components of The Political Spectrum
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Political Ideas
Why do political ideas matter? Why should we consider the ways in which
politics informs or influences art and vice-versa?
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What is this?
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Political Ideas
Our understanding of political reality is shaped in part by the ideas we have in our head
Change the ideas, we change the perception of reality which in effect means we change the reality
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Definition
Ideology: An organized system of ideas that rationalizes
and justifies the exercise of power
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Organized
By “organized” we mean that the various ideas that comprise an ideology are logically connected to each other
e.g., if a person advocates all men are created equal, it follows that kingships and hereditary titles will not be part of that ideology
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Definition
Ideology: An organized system of ideas that rationalizes
and justifies the exercise of power
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Rationalizes
By “rationalizes” we mean that the ideas in the ideology will explain why the particular power relations, institutions, and distributive arrangements exist
The ideology offers an explanation for power
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Definition
Ideology: An organized system of ideas that rationalizes
and justifies the exercise of power
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Justifies
By “justifies” we mean that the ideas provide a moral account for why it is permissible for the power relations, institutions, and distributive arrangments to exist.
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Components of
Ideologies will generally answer 4 sets of related questions: A theory of human nature A theory on the relationship between individual and
society A normative theory providing a standard to measure
right and wrong A theory on the pace, and possibility, of political change
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Human Nature
Are human beings fundamentally “good or bad”?
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Individual and the State
Which comes first? Do people come
together to form a society and the state?
Does the state/society create the individuals who comprise it?
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Normative Criteria
What is the standard by which we judge actions and power? Equality? Freedom? Honor?
Who’s interests should matter? Individuals? Nature? Class? State? Race? Gender?
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Continuity and Change
Can we predict with sufficient certainty the impact of our actions?
Should current generations be beholden to decisions made by previous generations?
Does political change occur gradually or quickly?
Is revolution possible?
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Political Ideas and Art
Political ideas help unite a people, whether in support of, or in resistance to, the powers that be
Art is another way of communicating ideas with each other, in each of these circumstances
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The Political Spectrum
Traditionally (since the 18th century) we have used the language of “left” and “right” to describe different political ideologies Left = more liberal/radical Right = more conservative
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The Political Spectrum
Roots of the spectrum are in the French Revolution Supporters of the kind sat on the right side of the
hall; the critics and revolutionaries sat on the left
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The Political Spectrum
“Red” becomes the color of the left (as in the “better dead than Red” taunts during the Cold War) for the same reason
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Political Spectrum
liberalism
socialismcommunism anarchism
fascism
monarchism, etc.
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Political Spectrum
Left Right
more equality more hierarchymore individual more statemore for change more for stability