ART FOR CONFLICT: On the occasion of the USA rejoining UNESCO after 9/11 subsequent to a long absence, Laura Bush suggested that UNESCO “can now help to achieve peace by spreading the values that will defeat terror and lead to a better and safer world”. The obvious questions arising from this declaration are: Which values? Whose interests would this “peace” serve? Who sets the peace agenda? Who suffers in securing such “peace”? Brown University’s “Cost of Wars Project” estimates that in the ten years after 9/11 in which 3000 Americans tragically lost their lives, 225 000 people were killed as a result of “the war on terror”, with at least $3,2 trillion spent on the war in that time. What “values” does this suggest? That the life of one American is more valuable than 70 Pakistanis, Iraqis, Afghans? That there is greater moral rectitude in obscene expenditure on war to deal with the symptoms of inequality, rather than on its causes? With the rapid growth of neo-liberal economics at the World Trade Organisation in the 90s, “cultural diversity” was advocated by countries like France, Canada and Australia to protect their share of the global audio-visual market, and to counter America’s cultural hegemony. 9/11 reshaped the narrative about conflict, now viewed as the clash of civilizations, as cultural conflicts. Accordingly, “cultural diversity” which affirmed difference, made way for “intercultural dialogue” and “cultural diplomacy” to facilitate “common values to defeat terror”. In short, the economic and security interests of wealthy nations shape much of the international cultural agenda and discourse. If this is true, then to pursue peace without addressing the fundamental and structural inequities that are the base of conflict, is to perpetuate such inequities and injustices, and to serve minority interests. It is against this background that I would argue for art that is provocative, challenging and disturbing as it challenges unjust status quos, and presents alternative visions that could result in more sustainable peace. -- Mike Van Graan Full article: mikevangraan.wordpress/2014/04/15/connecting-the-arts-to-peace-building/ Mark Teh, Norhayati Kaprawi, Jo Kukathas, Kee Thuan Chye, Lainie Yeoh, Chaoz InOrion, Izan Satrina, Alex Chua, Christopher Ling, James Lee, Alfian Saat, Ann Lee, Marion DCruz, Fahmi Fadzil, Tshiung Han See, Ahmad Fuad Rahmat, Goh Lee Kwang, Halim Berbar
Posted on: Wed, 16 Apr 2014 11:11:33 +0000
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