On art, class and politics

The art world is not reflective of any entire society. It represents the tolerant and pluralistic factions that encourage—and even celebrate—difference and dissent. On one hand, as Davis points out, this can be a symbolic release valve for class differences, but it is also reflective of the moral and ethical differences that fracture the societal landscapes of diverse cultures, from Iran to California.

From The Conflation of Ethics and Morality by William Powhida on the art:21 blog.

There’s a bit of back story involved that is only sort-of explained by Powhida’s piece How the New Museum Committed Suicide with Banality. Still it’s an interesting post about the tensions between and limits of both publicly-funded and privately-funded art institutions.

Related: New Museum