Art Quote by Robert Hughes
““It seems obvious, looking back, that the artists of Weimar Germany and Leninist Russia lived in a much more attenuated landscape of media than ours, and their reward was that they could still believe, in good faith and without bombast, that art could morally influence the world. Today, the idea has largely been dismissed, as it must in a mass media society where art's principal social role is to be investment capital, or, in the simplest way, bullion. We still have political art, but we have no effective political art. An artist must be famous to be heard, but as he acquires fame, so his work accumulates 'value' and becomes, ipso-facto, harmless. As far as today's politics is concerned, most art aspires to the condition of Muzak. It provides the background hum for power.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Shock of the New, Robert Hughes, 1980
The quote argues that modern mass media has reduced art’s capacity to effect moral or political change, turning it into a commodity or background noise rather than a catalyst for societal transformation.
In simple terms: Mass media turned art into a commodity, diminishing its political power.
Key Takeaway
Recognize art’s limited influence today and seek authentic, critical engagement.
Themes
media
art
politics
commodification
culture
Mood
critical
skeptical
reflective
Type
analysis
commentary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- activist movements
- independent publishing
- community murals
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
aesthetic theory
political economy
media saturation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can artists retain moral influence in a commodified world?
- What forms of art today resist becoming background noise?
A Different Perspective
The argument may overlook grassroots art that still mobilizes communities despite commercial pressures.
