ART AND DEMOCRACY

Art and democracy: Ai Weiwei

Art and democracy: Ai Weiwei

Introduction

In the 1970's the democracy of China took a perfect swing and developed various practices in favor of democracy. China's Communist Revolution and the control strategy, under the leadership of Mao Tse Tung (Gould, 1988, 22-37). However, the leader of the Communist Party (CPC) Mao Tse Tung encouraged criticism and debate about the political and economic problems plaguing the country. During the Revolution, Mao Zedong announced the start of a new revolution, the Cultural Revolution, which aimed to end the so-called “four old”: The customs, old habits, old culture and old ways of thinking (Rogues, 2005, 19-23). However, democracy began with the ancient Greeks. While a few prior kingdoms and city-states of the ancient Near East may have included a degree of communal or popular decision making in government, nowhere outside Greece did the process rise to the level of democracy. Moreover, democracy means rule by the people. (Urbinati, & Warren, 2008, 387-412). However, the powers of the world system are increasingly adrift, as the crisis of global capitalism is out of hand. In short, the immense structural inequalities of the global political economy can no longer be sustained through consensual mechanisms of social control. The ruling classes have lost legitimacy and we are witnessing a breakdown of the hegemony of the ruling class worldwide. The notion is disturbing and there is less possibilities that will have these democratic notions covered. However, Ai Weiwei a Chinese artist is playing a vital role and influencing people with the help of his unique art work. However, Ai Weiwei's activities permitted artists to deviate from the regular style that they work within a fortunate zone limited by the walls of a museum or gallery. Thus, Weiwei's style expands the possibilities of what an artist can do with art, and how to use their voice. However, his work represents the seismic changes taking place in China since the economic opening of the country. He criticized the violations of human rights, economic exploitation and pollution in his home and refers not only to formal artistic traditions of China. Moreover, Ai Weiwei's number one ranking is the direct outcome of his hard work to develop the terrain and spectators for current art practice by breaking down the barriers between art and life.

Discussion

Democracy

The literal meaning of democracy highlights it as rule by the people. The earliest conceptions of democracy got associated with the ancient Greeks. A number of factors contributed to the development of democracy in Athens. The polis, or city-state, served as a basic unit of operation in Greece and got built on largely egalitarian values. These values got supported by three key factors. Moreover, the earliest conceptions of democracy got associated with the ancient Greeks (Robinson, 2004, 9-31). A number of factors contributed to the development of democracy in Athens. The polis, or city-state, served as a basic unit of operation in Greece and got built on largely egalitarian ...