Throughout the history of civilization, one interesting and completely logical connection can be traced - the interaction of art and power. It would seem, how can two completely different spheres of human life affect each other? Nevertheless, when considering categories such as art and power, it becomes obvious that they are much closer than it was originally seen. They both act on the will and emotions of a person, changing them and subjecting them to a specific goal.
How art affects power
In order to understand the nature of the interaction between the political system and creativity, you need to know what they are.
Power is the ability and ability to exert a certain influence on the behavior and activities of people with the help of a set of certain means.
Art is an essential part of cultural life, a kind of spiritual and practical development of the world and its interconnections.
How can these categories interact with each other?
Art is the embodiment of a flight of fantasy, a manifestation of freedom and the creative spirit of man. Nevertheless, it was often used by those in power to achieve certain political and religious goals. How was this done? The bottom line is that both art and power are able to seize the minds of the people and impose on them a certain line of behavior. Thanks to the work of prominent sculptors, poets and artists, country leaders strengthened their authority by belittling opponents, and different cities maintained their fame and prestige.
Art allows you to translate into reality rituals and religious symbols, create ideal and majestic images of rulers. They were endowed with extraordinary qualities, wisdom and heroism, which undoubtedly aroused admiration and respect of citizens.
Thus, one should not underestimate the influence of power on art, which has become an excellent tool in establishing a certain political regime. Unfortunately, often ordinary people became a victim of deception, which was achieved through the work of poets and writers.
Art and power in antiquity
If we consider the interaction of these two branches of social life, it becomes obvious that many centuries ago it was a very important tool for influencing people. Especially strongly art and power depended on each other in the ancient superpowers. Thus, the Roman Empire in its heyday is famous for its sculptures depicting emperors and generals. We see their perfect physique, classic facial features, filled with courage and courage, and involuntarily imbued with respect for them. What can we say about their contemporaries?
Art and power in ancient Egypt intertwined very interestingly. His religion of Zoroastrianism endowed the pharaohs with the power of mythical creatures. Often they were portrayed with a human body and the head of an animal. This emphasized their divine power.
Middle Ages
If we consider art and power in a later period, then we can trace significant changes. Receptions of sculptors, artists and poets have become more sophisticated, as it has become increasingly difficult to influence the human consciousness . Now, writers commissioned by the royal administration created ornate poems in which they described the exploits and majestic deeds of the ruling persons. The art of those times gave mankind many outstanding artifacts. So, Napoleon I, trying to perpetuate the strength and power of his army, ordered the creation of the Arc de Triomphe in the center of Paris , which has been perfectly preserved to this day.
The ratio of power and art in our country
The history of the interaction of these categories in Russia goes back to the 15th century. At this time, Byzantium, the heiress of Ancient Rome, fell under the onslaught of the barbarians. Moscow became the cultural and Orthodox center of Eurasia. Our state experienced rapid geographical and economic growth, which required the creation of an appropriate image. The court of Moscow tsars became a haven for outstanding culturally educated and religious figures. These included talented icon painters, architects, musicians and builders.
The relevance of the influence of art on power today
Of course, everything has changed in the modern world, but the topic being described (power and art) remains very important and relevant. The interrelation of these sectors of activity is especially strong during periods of significant political and socio-economic changes. There is practically no censorship, which means that anyone who seeks to express their thoughts and ideas with the help of art can do this without fear of being punished. This is a very important breakthrough regarding freedom of creativity and spirit.
How does art affect power these days? Now these two concepts are very far removed from each other, as people can get reliable and complete information about the domestic and foreign policies of their state, as well as express their opinions openly. There is no longer any need to influence the minds of the population with the help of beautiful poems and sculptures in order to strengthen authority.
Exhibitions on the influence of power on art
From time to time, exhibitions are held in different cities to highlight this problem. They are of great interest to those who are interested in history and political science. Not so long ago, a similar exhibition was held at the Swedish Museum. She bore the symbolic name "Art for rulers." It was possible to see more than 100 expositions with the participation of 400 exhibits from different eras.