My Lesson Commences
I walked up a flight of stairs in Johannesburg, South Africa, drawn to the shadows of music I heard bouncing around the hallway.
It’s an old building, probably long gone by now, but the memories are sharp and precise. I can still whiff the musty smell of that dusty hallway. The wooden floors, the dirty panes of frosted glass on the doors, and the black and white photos on the walls—singers, actors, playwrights. One stops me—Athol Figgard.
The building is called Dorkay House, and on the second floor are the offices and rehearsal space of the Phoenix Players. I’m a teenager, a kid really, naive like I’ve always been, and excited. I’m about to open the door to the rehearsal and meet the cast and band, but more than anything, I’m about to get a lesson. Something I take with me for the next fifty years. Something that still has as much meaning today as ever. And something we’ve lost along the way. Well, some of us.
The arts are a powerful tool for political change and social activism. Through visual art, music, literature, or performance, artists have long influenced history by challenging norms, advocating for justice, and giving voice to the voiceless.
I’m walking through that door in the middle of apartheid South Africa.
They’re producing a musical, but there’s much more to what’s happening in that space than singing and dancing.
History Repeats Itself Constantly
Art has always played a significant role during revolutions and political upheaval. During the French Revolution, artists were commissioned to create paintings and symbols embodying liberty and equality ideals. The Louvre is packed with them. Rearing horses and men, swords drawn, bring liberty no matter the cost.
During the Russian Revolution, art was used both as a tool for propaganda by the Bolsheviks and as a medium for dissent by those who opposed the new regime. Moscow was filled with writers working by candlelight, nouns and verbs in the shadows striking in all directions.
Propaganda harnesses the power of art for political purposes. Posters, films, and songs inspire, manipulate, or control public opinion. We see it at every political rally. World War II posters urging citizens to "Do Your Part" to films glorifying the communist state or the warlords of Washington. The marriage of art and politics is long-standing.
Art is also a vehicle of resistance. Under authoritarian regimes, dissident art becomes a lifeline. In Eastern Europe, artists found ways to embed anti-government messages. In apartheid South Africa, music became a rallying cry for equality and resistance.
That’s what I heard all those years ago in South Africa.
A guitar is a powerful weapon.
Art as a Political Force
Some of the most significant social movements have relied on art as a driving force. During the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, protest songs like Bob Dylan’s ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ and Billie Holiday’s ‘Strange Fruit’ were not just forms of expression but anthems of change. ‘Masters of War’ drove millions to the streets.
Visual art, photography, and literature chronicled the struggles of African Americans, amplifying their voices and galvanizing public support for civil rights.
Similarly, in the fight for women’s rights, feminist art challenged traditional gender roles and demanded equality. Artists like Judy Chicago and the Guerrilla Girls brought attention to the marginalization of women in the art world and beyond, using their platforms to advocate for social justice.
The LGBTQ+ movement has also seen art as a beacon of visibility and acceptance. From the early days of the Stonewall riots to today’s Pride celebrations, art in music, literature, and performance has been central to the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, making marginalized identities visible and pushing for societal change.
Art in Contemporary Political Movements
Today, art remains a vital tool for political activism. The Black Lives Matter movement has been heavily influenced by art. Murals, digital art, and protest signs capture the movement's spirit and serve as a way to memorialize victims of racial violence and rally communities around the cause.
Climate change activism, too, has embraced art to raise awareness and inspire action. From eco-art installations to performance pieces that highlight environmental degradation, artists use their talents to advocate for ecological justice and urge policy changes.
The digital age has opened new avenues for artists to blend their work with activism. Social media platforms, in particular, have allowed artists to reach a global audience instantly. Memes, viral videos, and online art campaigns are modern-day pamphlets spreading messages of protest and hope.
It’s a two-way street. The rising tide of disinformation builds bonfires of fear and hate.
Art as a Catalyst for Dialogue
One of the most powerful aspects of art is its ability to create dialogue. Art can break down barriers and foster empathy across political divides. When people engage with art, they think critically about issues, making it a valuable tool for creating awareness and encouraging conversations about complex subjects.
Art also serves as a bellwether for freedom. When books are not banned, that’s when we know our freedom is not threatened.
I’m hearing in the hallways of that old building in Johannesburg is that the Phoenix Players are practicing a new musical called ‘Phiri.’ On the surface, it’s a retelling of Ben Johnson's 17th-century play, ‘Volpone.’
But it is so much more than that.
Challenges and Criticisms
Despite its power, the role of art as a political force is not without challenges. One issue is the commercialization of art. As art becomes commodified, its political impact is diminished. When art is created for profit, it can lose its edge, its message diluted by the pressures of the marketplace.
We are in the Age of Monetization, and it has gutted art. The price for our digital convenience is steep.
In the digital age, algorithms on social media platforms and search engines control what art and political messages people see. It’s an invisible Block Lord throtting some opinions and blowing up others. We live in echo chambers, where only certain types of art or viewpoints are visible, limiting the broader political impact art can have.
Art scares power. It is provocative and nasty. It is hard to control, but the control tools are sharper and more precise, and they are in the hands of a fast-moving crowd of shadowy digerati.
Censorship is a challenge. During political tensions, such as the current status of the United States, governments and corporations suppress art, which challenges the status quo. In places where free speech is limited, artists are silenced, and their work is banned, preventing it from reaching the public.
The Show Closes
The arts are a potent force for political and social change, and I don’t expect that to go away, no matter how many billionaires try to control us. From historical revolutions to modern-day movements, art is a means of protest, a source of inspiration, and a vehicle for dialogue. As we continue to navigate complex political landscapes, the power of creativity to influence and reflect societal change remains vital. Whether through painting, song, performance, or digital media, the arts will always have the potential to shape the world profoundly.
I learned these lessons as a young man. I wrote the full story here. Phiri toured the African townships and was a powerful political statement. When we opened in Jo’burg, the oppressive and fear-riddled Afrikaner regimen saw it for what it was and closed the show after one performance.
It didn’t matter. The end was near for the fascists, and the music and voices raised eventually sent them all into the sea.
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