The Artist in an Alternative World

None at Nowadays

Thu, Jul 18 at 7:30 p.m. | 90 minutes

Politicians can say more or less whatever they want to and overwhelming numbers of people either believe, don’t understand, don’t care, or somehow think they can’t be affected. What role does the artist play in the age of alternative facts?

Assumptions about the nature of scientific theory and truth are being called back into doubt after years of general acceptance—in most instances for political rather than epistemological reasons (climate change, evolution, vaccines, etc.). These doubts are evident in the actions of large segments of the population and exhibited by the present leadership; politicians can say more or less whatever they want to and overwhelming numbers of people either believe, don’t understand, don’t care, or somehow think they can’t be affected by the hegemonic “truth” of the moment.

Art, a form of expression with highly symbolic emotional content, can bypass conscious filters or “reason,” and may actually be the best route inside peoples’ heads—to their understanding of the world. And, for art to be a crucial, visionary contributor to the human project, it must be critical of the ruling order.

Let's talk about the role of art in the age of alternative facts.

Teacher: Ward Regan

Venue: Nowadays

What is Think Olio?

Think Olio is here to put the liberation back into the liberal arts.

Classically, the liberal arts, were the education considered essential for a free person to take an active part in civic life. To counter a humanities that has been institutionalized and dehumanized we infuse critical thinking, openness, playfulness, and compassion into our learning experience.

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