A Grove of Ashes and Aspens

Now Playing: Elvenlegions by Elvenking

Throughout history, we can see discussions of political themes within art, ranging from a comedic look at history to playing with gender roles to open criticism of current political leaders to a critical look at social issues affecting the modern human being.

Now, whether or not some people want to believe it, art is one of the only ways people can easily find a place to voice their concerns and be open about their struggles, so it makes complete sense that political themes will find a place in art. What brings the political aspect of art into an even sharper focus is when we choose to look at the history of Western art.

Many well known composers from Western music history were, at one point or another, employed by the Church, which doesn’t really have the cleanest track record when it comes to doing right by everyone involved. Some also profited, whether directly or indirectly, from the slave trade. Many modern artists also have some sort of controversy or negative parts of their past that sometimes come to light, either as a result of someone wanting vengeance for perceived or actual wrongs or not wanting to stay quiet about their behaviour in private.

So a big part of the question becomes about being able to separate the art from the artist and whether or not that is actually possible, and if so, to what extent. There are several different ways to look at this question.

Many historical composers with ties to the Church or the slave trade were very much a product of their time. While the slave trade and the unsavoury of the history of the Church were wrong even then, as they are now, it is important to keep in mind that these were considered normal for the time. It is important to consider these different factors when analyzing historical figures. My personal stance on this is that though many historical composers benefitted from racism and otherwise unsavoury practices of the times, it is still worth acknowledging the impact they had on Western music as we know it, and understanding that music would not look the same without them.

As for more modern musicians, this gets a little more complicated and will often be up to the individual musician and the individual listener. Some musicians who have had controversy in their past have learned from their mistakes and grown as people, while others haven’t. It’s also important to consider that some of the things that caused the controversy may have been released to the public years after they happened. So, it’s a situation of personal judgement and what each person is willing to forgive. I personally believe in giving people the benefit of the doubt, but I understand that not everyone is able or willing to do that, each for their own individual reasons.

So what does all of this mean for politics in the arts? It means that when you give people a way to express themselves, they will use it to express things that may be seen as negative by governmental authorities, regardless of the truth behind the message. It means that people now have a way to call others to action and bring to light issues faced by those who may have less societal power. It means that political topics are inherently intertwined with the arts in a way that cannot be untangled until we are living in an ideal society. And an ideal society is just that – an ideal. As such, politics will forever have a place in the arts, regardless of what some may want to think about it.