Commissioners Quote by Jean Dubuffet
“The State has but one face for me: that of the police. To my eyes, all of the State's ministries have this single face, and I cannot imagine the ministry of culture other than as the police of culture, with its prefect and commissioners.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The State and Its Faces,” 1955
The state’s power is embodied in its police; cultural institutions mirror that authority.
In simple terms: State power is seen through policing.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how authority shapes culture.
Themes
politics
authority
culture
surveillance
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- media regulation
- art censorship
- public policy
Key Concepts
state theory
cultural hegemony
social control
Questions to Reflect On
- How does policing influence cultural expression?
- Can art resist state control?
A Different Perspective
Complex societies have multiple power structures beyond police.
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