Dissed and Disconnected

Dissed and Disconnected - Notes on Present Ills and Future Dreams - by B. Ruby Rich

From the book 'The Subversive Imagination - Artists, Society and Social Responsibility' Edited by Carol Becker

'Indeed there is much more, from the record, to fear when art is locked in to courts and academies, or when, at the opposite extreme, artists are pushed by neglect into isolation and there is no flow between them and a wide diverse public.' (page 223) Raymond Williams, The Politics of Modernism

• The two extremes of art being of a really high status and a really low status mean it is not accessible to 'a wide and diverse public.' 
• This quote is saying that pretentious gallery culture and a disregard for art are both damaging as they do not allow the artwork to flow within a community. 
• The accessibility of artwork is important, especially relating to social responsibility. If you create work with a message that needs to be seen by people then how it will reach that audience has to be taken into consideration. Not only can an artist feel a sense of responsibility to create work with a message, they may also feel a responsibility to ensure it reaches its intended audience. 

'It is through the arts that influence can be exercised.' (page 225)

• This quote is pretty self explanatory, you can influence through the means of art. 
• What is it about the arts that allows it to make an impact? Is it the lack of restriction on what can be done or the enjoyment people get from it that makes them take notice of what is being said?
• Again, thinking about status. Does this sense of status link to authority. Do people see art as authority or more like a rebellion against authority?

'... the arts could offer a route out of the status quo.' (page 232)

• Similar to the quote above. Art can break the traditions of what is 'normal'. Because often in society, what is normal is not always what is right. In some parts of the world it is normal for individuals of a certain race, religion or gender to be persecuted but this does not mean it is morally the right thing to do. 
• Moving away from the 'status quo' does not necessarily mean doing the right thing instead of the wrong thing. It could be a case of opening up opportunities and allowing people to view things from another perspective. 

'Unlike other professions the arts occupy a special, anomalous position in our society. Practitioners aren't licensed. Its members are entirely self-declared and self anointed, lacking any visible signs of status' (page 235)

• The societal placing of an artist is not the same as a doctor or policeman, it is a position within society that is earned through their practice and through proving themselves to be what they say they are. 
• Anyone can be an artist - is this true? Can you be taught how to be an artist or can you just be taught how to make things? Why isn't this the same thing?

'Although the romantic legacy of the art world mitigates against any such institutionalized forms of redress, such systems of regulation are not unimaginable and could easily be as useful to artists as to the public.' (page 235)

• I am finding this quote difficult to understand. I am trying to re-word it into simpler terms. Although the romantic legacy of the art world alleviates the instututional forms of remedy/correction, these systems of regulation are feasible and could be useful to artists and the public. 
• I think the start of the quote is saying that art can do a similar job to more structured methods social remedy, and in turn will take some of the pressure off them. I'm still struggling with the end of this quote, does this mean that artists and the public can also benefit from more structured methods of reformation or does it mean the opposite?

'An ombudsman structure could be established to handle situations of conflict or distress.' (page 235)

• An ombudsman structure would be where someone's job is finding out the issues people have with a govenrning body. Is this what an artist's job is within society, find out about problems and making them known, making people aware and working to ensure something is done about it?
• If this is not your intention as an artist/creative, are you neglecting your social responsibility to do so?

'It is precisely at such a painful, troubled, yet potentially inspiring and empowering time that the arts have much to offer, if only artists are up to the challenge.' (page 236)

• Art often stems from bad events and injustice. This supports the idea that artists feel a responsibility to do something about the bad things that are happening in our society. If things were perfect all the time, would there be a need for art? 
• The 'arts have so much to offer' suggests they have power and a voice that people will listen to in these times. However, the final part of this quote is questioning whether the artists, as people, are strong enough or whether they actually want to do what they have the power to do. 

'Artists can produce work, not solely in the splendid isolation of the individual ego' ... 'but in the call-and-response connection that links each one to some sort of community' (page 238)

• This quote almost splits the art discipline into two categories. Work for yourself as an individual and work to be shared with the outside world. This connects to the image by David Shrigley which I analysed stating that the artist has no social responsibility when working for himself but this changes when the work is shared with others. 

'Why not broaden the notion of arts spaces beyond the old apartheid system of art world galleries versus community arts centres?' (page 244)

• Again, a point relating to making art more accessible. Do artists have a responsibility to make their work accessible to a wider range of people. Is it necessary to break down social status barriers of art for it to truly make an impact. 

'Imagine a world, then, in which it would do as much for an artist's career to show in a fast food restaurant as in a bank.' (page 244)

• Relating to the point above, this could develop into an argument about money vs social responsibility. I suppose it is down to an individual whether they would take more money to display their work in a prestigious location full well knowing that its message wouldn't reach the people it matters to most.

Ombudsman: an official appointed to investigate individuals' complaints against a company or organization, especially a public authority.

Redress: remedy or set right (an undesirable or unfair situation).