The Power of Art
EL PODER DEL ARTEpor John F. Kennedy
La fuerza tiene muchas formas, y las formas más obvias no son siempre las más significativas. Los hombres que crean el poder hacen una contribución indispensable a la grandeza de la Nación, pero los hombres que cuestionan el poder hacen una contribución igual de indispensable, especialmente cuando este cuestionamiento es desinteresado, ya que ellos determinan si nosotros usamos el poder o es el poder el que nos usa a nosotros. […]
Robert Frost unió poesía y poder, porque el vio en la poesía el medio para salvar al poder de si mismo. Cuando el poder lleva a los hombres a la arrogancia, la poesía les recuerda sus limitaciones. Cuando el poder estrecha las áreas de interés humano, la poesía le recuerda la riqueza y diversidad de su existencia. Cuando el poder corrompe, la poesía limpia. Ya que el arte establece la verdad básica humana que debería ser el punto de referencia de nuestro juicio.
El artista, aunque fiel a su visión personal de la realidad, llega a ser el último campeón de la mente individual y la sensatez contra una sociedad intrusiva y un estado entrometido… En la búsqueda de sus percepciones de la realidad, a menudo deberá navegar contra las corrientes de su tiempo. No es un papel muy popular.
Si a veces nuestros grandes artista han sido los más críticos de nuestra sociedad, es debido a que su sensibilidad y su preocupación por la justicia, que es lo que debe motivar a cualquier artista verdadero, les hace darse cuenta de que nuestra Nación está por debajo de su máximo potencial. Veo pocas cosas que tengan más importancia para el futuro de nuestro país y de nuestra civilización que el pleno reconocimiento del lugar del artista.
Si el arte está para nutrir las raíces de nuestra cultura, la sociedad tiene que dejar al arista libre para seguir su visión donde sea que le lleve. Nunca tenemos que olvidar que el arte no es una forma de propaganda; es una forma de verdad… En la sociedad libre el arte no es un arma y no pertenece a las esferas de la polémica y la ideología. Los artistas no son ingenieros del alma. Puede que sea diferente en otros lugares. Sin embargo en la sociedad democrática- en la cual, el más alto deber del escritor, el compositor, el artista es ser sincero consigo mismo y dejar que las "fichas" caigan donde deban. Dando su visión de la verdad es como mejor sirve a su nación el artista. Y la nación que desdeña la misión del arte llama a la suerte del hombre contratado de Robert Frost, el destino de “No tener nada que recordar con orgullo, ni nada a lo que aspirar con esperanza.”
Presidente de EEUU John F. Kennedy. Sus declaraciones en Amherst College
Preguntas semillas para la reflexión: ¿Cómo te relacionas con la noción que tiene el autor de que el deber más alto de un artista es permanecer fiel a sí mismo y dejar que las "fichas" caigan donde deban? ¿Puedes compartir alguna historia personal de algún momento en el que fuiste fiel a ti mismo a través del arte? ¿Qué te ayuda a reconocer tu propio potencial artístico y a honrarlo?
US President John F. Kennedy's remarks at Amherst College.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the author's notion that the highest duty of an artist is to remain true to oneself and let the chips fall where they may? Can you share a personal story of a time you were true to yourself through your art? What helps you recognize your own artistic potential and honor it?
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6 Past Reflections
On Sep 1, 2015 Shirley Weeks wrote :
Art is the expression of the soul. We need to stop restricting it to a few discrete areas valuable as they are. Art belongs to each individual. It is one of the prime methods of connection - the essence of humanity
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On Aug 29, 2015 Sara wrote :
Poetry as a refuge for inner reflection. The reflections arising from this reading are related to a dimension of power only accessible through the indulgence of poetry. Envisioning the reality where we support, even encourage, our leaders -- and ourselves! -- to each practice the art of our souls, be it through words or images or movement, etc... It feels like it would mean allowing this luxury, acknowledging the inherent value of each heart's individual expression towards development of more full, and thus stronger, outcomes.
Tangibly what comes to mind is the work of Paulo Freire, a 20th century Brazilian educator/activist known for his commitment to social justice & grass-roots transformation, and of Augusto Boal, a Brazilian theater director / activist. While my working knowledge of their work is still quite limited, what speaks strongly to me about it is the hands-on aspect of engaging with individuals, role-playing new responses that transcend the cycle of Oppression /... [View Full Comment]
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On Aug 29, 2015 david doane wrote :
I don't know if it's true or not, but I once heard it credited to activist Dan Berrigan that he said when tyrants took over a country, the first thing they did was cut off the fingers of the poets. It makes sense -- the tyrant doesn't want free thinking, truth telling artists stirring up problems. The artist expresses what he sees, in the way that he sees it, in whatever medium he happens to be using. He expresses his vision. The artist is also being a prophet, challenging the status quo by expressing his truth. Real art comes from the real self, from deep inside, not from the head but from the spirit or soul. The artist is inspired and creative, expressing his truth from his spirit or soul in his own unique way. When I do that, I am being an artist. My medium seems to be words, either written or spoken. There have been times I have been true to my real self through my words, and when I am I feel a deep satisfaction, whether what I... [View Full Comment]
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On Aug 28, 2015 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
The Sanskrit word for the poet is arshadrushta- one who has a clear sight and has a clear vision of the future. It is like seeing through the "third eye". She lives in the present, knows the downside of the power, is aware of social injustice but is not imprisoned by the short and narrow vision. What she says, writes and stands for may not be popular and may go against the prevailing societal currents. They have clear inner vision and inner strength. They blaze a new trail.
Art, like strength, takes different forms. There is the art of living- living a life founded on a cosmic vision of living. A living that goes beyond the self-serving, self-centered, greed-based, power and fame hungry, my is the only right way and others are ignorant, stupid and inferior. Such narrow and short sighted vision has damaged the lives of people, nations and life in nature.We are blessed to have visionary people with cosmic consciousness to help us expand our conscious... [View Full Comment]
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On Aug 28, 2015 Kristin Pedemonti wrote :
wow, the timing is perfect as I fly out to Burning Man today! <3 The highest duty of an artist is to remain true to oneself means to me to have the courage and integrity to speak, paint, dance, sing one's truth no matter how unpopular it may be; in fact it is most important when it may be the most difficult to do. I strive to be true to myself, my heart through my art of Storytelling. I have had so many occasions in which courage was required including in Belize where I had created & facilitated a volunteer literacy project. It was popular among the teachers and Principals but not so among the Ministry of Education who I suppose may have felt a threat. At one point they tried to shut down my project, but I did not give up. I learned later that the government at that time in Belize was quite corrupt and had an interest in the people remaining illiterate. I also learned that the indigenous legends I was helping to reclaim for the teachers had been banned from use in the sch... [View Full Comment]