Can art promote rights? A case for aesthetic activism in the EU
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14600/irpps_wps..2016Keywords:
art, aesthetics, political activism, citizen rights, Europe, EUAbstract
In this study, I elaborate a notion of aesthetic activism based on Jacques Rancière’s conception of “politics as aesthetics.†I contrast aesthetic activism with the more traditional forms of political activism and of social movements. Rather than addressing the current legal and regulatory situation of a specific set of civil or human rights, this study is intended as a general intervention into the realm of political activism itself. Hence, the range of discussed examples of aesthetic activism covers several rights which are especially important in the European context: the right of asylum, the right of protection of whistleblowers in the European Union, reproductive rights etc. I argue that aesthetic activism might be more effective in current political and medial environment and, also, that it is exceptionally suited to address European issues, target European Institutions and the budding pan-European public sphere.References
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