Political and Philosophical Dimensions of Art

Pravin Nagarajah and Jaber Thakur

(The following article is a transcribed summary of key discussion points that came up in a recent PPE Society session)

The Raft of the Medusa

Théodore Géricault’s The Raft of the Medusa is a powerful critique of government failures in the early 19th century but remains relevant in contemporary times. While being a painting of more recent times, it retains a more classical nature, depicting the aftermath of the Méduse shipwreck. Gericault highlights the slow response to rescue the survivors, symbolising leadership failing its people. 

The painting's dramatic arrangement, with bodies strewn across the raft, contrasts with the actual chaotic scene of desperation. The beauty and elegance of the piece masks the ugliness of survival, in which people are willing to sacrifice one another for their own lives. Perhaps a grim outlook on how power and self-preservation dehumanise us. The figure at the top, waving the flag, symbolises the tragic climb to power, often resulting in catastrophe.

In essence, Géricault's work speaks to a recurring failure of leadership throughout history, making it a deeply political work that echoes across generations. The piece becomes not just a moment frozen in time but a reflection on the cyclical nature of human suffering and governance.

Guernica

Pablo Picasso's Guernica is a haunting depiction of the brutal consequences of war. The absence of colour in the painting stresses its solemnity, symbolising the sadness and destruction that occurs during war. The chaotic composition, with its distorted shapes and figures, might be said to capture confusion and cruelty in war, portraying it as barbaric and primitive. Animalistic elements further emphasise the raw cruelty of human violence. This historical art piece, created in response to the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War in 1937 by the German Nazis and Italian Fascist air forces, resulted in extensive civilian casualties and mass destruction which has led to the artwork being a universal condemnation of war and violence.

Often resurfacing on social media during wars and crises, Guernica is relevant to this day, given ongoing conflicts, such as those happening in the Middle East. Painted because of the mental toll the bombing had on Picasso, the artwork reminds people of how war can destroy randomly. However, countries continue to wage wars, almost to say that they have not learned anything from history, even with eternal messages left behind.

The Persistence of Memory

Salvador Dalí's The Persistence of Memory delves deeply into common philosophical themes, particularly the nature of time and perception. The painting’s iconic melting clocks challenge the rigid, objective understanding of time as a linear and unyielding force. Instead, Dalí presents time as fluid and subjective, reflecting the complexities of human experience and consciousness. This surreal interpretation invites viewers to contemplate the malleability of memory and reality, suggesting that our perceptions are often shaped by psychological states rather than absolute truths. The dreamlike landscape further emphasises the disconnect between the conscious and subconscious, prompting questions about the reliability of our memories and how they influence our identities - it evokes a sense of disorientation.

So what does this mean in terms of our current society? It shows that our society has, with time, been slowly disconnecting itself from the natural world and traditional concepts of time. In today’s fast-paced world, the relentless march of technology and constant information flow can create a sense of temporal distortion, akin to the melting clocks in Dalí's work. Moreover, the painting's exploration of the unconscious can be reflected in how social media and digital communication shape identities and memories. Just as Dalí's surreal landscape blurs the lines between dream and reality, the curated nature of online personas often distorts our understanding of ourselves and others.