Enjoyed this one, it really is quite strange how once people get even an ounce of power or authority (referring to the fact that the instructors were educators), it is seemingly impossible for many to not inject their personal politics into everything that is related to that power or authority.
I also want to say what you chose to depict in your art is just perfect and so beautiful. I also want to learn more about seed art now!
Thank you for this post! We recently decided to leave a church we had been attending because it was heavily political (we have since started attending Catholic mass), and it always made me feel so yucky. I also desire more neutral third spaces. I also feel they make everyone safer and more welcome.
I think that's one of the things I really love (and respect deeply) about the Catholic tradition. I'm so glad you've found a parish you love and appreciate, that's amazing!
I remember a conversation at a hip Northeast restaurant with two left-leaning friends, and I just flat out asked them, “do you not know any thoughtful conservatives?” And they responded just as I thought they might: with confusion, and derisive laughter. Conservatives are a caricature to many of these people. The liberal bubble is so real.
Good grief. I come from an art history and politics background and I was heavily influenced by two very excellent professors who aggressively keep their personal, personal. They said their job was to see you form your own thoughts not parrot theirs. Thank goodness. Art is not inherently political and politics frankly make it propaganda, not art. I wish people would understand just how boring propaganda is.
Great commentary! At my previous tech company my manager asked our entire team to volunteer for his political phone bank encouraging people to vote for a certain candidate. It felt so absurd to me that he assumed we all voted the same way - even if we did! - especially in a managerial position of power like that. Made me feel so deeply uncomfortable and furthered the narrative that all tech company employees think/vote the same way
Or even to just a woman who had had an abortion! There are so many, and so many that silently struggle with its aftermath. Someone told me once that a friend of hers can’t watch television because whenever there’s a baby she thinks of the baby she aborted💔 Regardless of what one thinks specifically about the issue, the casual way it’s talked about is absolutely disgusting.
Yes! I wish people would stop seeing every gathering / performance as a place to share their politics.
In my experience, bringing politics into shared experiences devalues them. It’s like saying, this isn’t REALLY about art or music or our relationship, it’s about political feelings.
I end up just not wanting to participate in arts events. Unless I know who’s involved and feel confident I won’t be ambushed by the sort of posturing you describe, I usually won’t go.
Your last paragraph is basically what my husband said to me when I got home and shared my experience. I found myself teetering between not going to things that might be heavy-handed or else wanting to show up and take a chance. It’s hard to know the right thing to do!
The fiber arts community has the same problem! There was quite a bit of drama a few years back in a popular knit/crochet pattern website because they took a very left wing stance. They banned any right-leaning patterns while leaving and promoting ones that said things like, "F*** Trump". I don't even attend knitting groups anymore because so many of them have gotten brazenly political and bitter.
This is insane. Unless the professor stated that this was a leftest art class there should have never been this sort of focus. I have taken many many folk art classes that never got political, but that was in the early 2000s and I would be pretty livid if I had paid for a class to learn an art form and then got a lesson in one sided politics, even if I agreed with the political view. I just don't think that belongs in an art class that doesn't state that is part of the class. You guys had one session with this teacher to learn a style of art that you were interested in. That should have been the focus. Glad you complained.
Enjoyed this one, it really is quite strange how once people get even an ounce of power or authority (referring to the fact that the instructors were educators), it is seemingly impossible for many to not inject their personal politics into everything that is related to that power or authority.
I also want to say what you chose to depict in your art is just perfect and so beautiful. I also want to learn more about seed art now!
It's quite concerning, isn't it?! I was shocked by how casual she was and the brazen way everyone else just accepted it (!!!).
You should really try seed art, and I bet your kids might enjoy it, too. It was easy once I got the hang of it.
Thank you for this post! We recently decided to leave a church we had been attending because it was heavily political (we have since started attending Catholic mass), and it always made me feel so yucky. I also desire more neutral third spaces. I also feel they make everyone safer and more welcome.
I think that's one of the things I really love (and respect deeply) about the Catholic tradition. I'm so glad you've found a parish you love and appreciate, that's amazing!
Love this so much💪🏼
I remember a conversation at a hip Northeast restaurant with two left-leaning friends, and I just flat out asked them, “do you not know any thoughtful conservatives?” And they responded just as I thought they might: with confusion, and derisive laughter. Conservatives are a caricature to many of these people. The liberal bubble is so real.
Good grief. I come from an art history and politics background and I was heavily influenced by two very excellent professors who aggressively keep their personal, personal. They said their job was to see you form your own thoughts not parrot theirs. Thank goodness. Art is not inherently political and politics frankly make it propaganda, not art. I wish people would understand just how boring propaganda is.
I thought your little portrait was delightful.
Yes it is so boring!! Great point.
Great commentary! At my previous tech company my manager asked our entire team to volunteer for his political phone bank encouraging people to vote for a certain candidate. It felt so absurd to me that he assumed we all voted the same way - even if we did! - especially in a managerial position of power like that. Made me feel so deeply uncomfortable and furthered the narrative that all tech company employees think/vote the same way
Nooooo! I am horrified by that. So sorry.
Ew.
I’m sorry the experience wasn’t what you hoped, but I love the art you made. 💛
Or even to just a woman who had had an abortion! There are so many, and so many that silently struggle with its aftermath. Someone told me once that a friend of hers can’t watch television because whenever there’s a baby she thinks of the baby she aborted💔 Regardless of what one thinks specifically about the issue, the casual way it’s talked about is absolutely disgusting.
So so heartbreaking!
Truly. Yet people want to virtue signal about it as the highest feminist value. I cannot.
The last time I was at the state fair - I noticed almost all of the seed art had a very heavy left leaning political bent. Now I know why!
Do you think my fetus will win or somehow get “disqualified?” 😂👌🏽
Yes! I wish people would stop seeing every gathering / performance as a place to share their politics.
In my experience, bringing politics into shared experiences devalues them. It’s like saying, this isn’t REALLY about art or music or our relationship, it’s about political feelings.
I end up just not wanting to participate in arts events. Unless I know who’s involved and feel confident I won’t be ambushed by the sort of posturing you describe, I usually won’t go.
Your last paragraph is basically what my husband said to me when I got home and shared my experience. I found myself teetering between not going to things that might be heavy-handed or else wanting to show up and take a chance. It’s hard to know the right thing to do!
That's a really touching picture you made.
The fiber arts community has the same problem! There was quite a bit of drama a few years back in a popular knit/crochet pattern website because they took a very left wing stance. They banned any right-leaning patterns while leaving and promoting ones that said things like, "F*** Trump". I don't even attend knitting groups anymore because so many of them have gotten brazenly political and bitter.
This is insane. Unless the professor stated that this was a leftest art class there should have never been this sort of focus. I have taken many many folk art classes that never got political, but that was in the early 2000s and I would be pretty livid if I had paid for a class to learn an art form and then got a lesson in one sided politics, even if I agreed with the political view. I just don't think that belongs in an art class that doesn't state that is part of the class. You guys had one session with this teacher to learn a style of art that you were interested in. That should have been the focus. Glad you complained.