Art of Now: Identity Crisis

In this podcast, author and social commentator Sohrab Ahmari discusses the influence of identity politics on contemporary art and how it has come to dominate them. Ahmari believes that not only is much of this art ugly, but that it has terrible consequences for art and society in general by “fuelling narcissism, division and political conformity”.

During this investigation, he talks to people from both sides of the argument. The critics of identity politics’ domination within the canon claim that certain subject matters are taboo, a fact that they feel goes against the traditions of art and that young artists are being encouraged to pursue this course because it is an easy source of funding and an easy path to notoriety. Many see the exponents of contemporary art as being primarily interested in the self and is often a narcissistic display to place oneself above the masses.

Those who support identity politics within the canon believe it allows marginalized communities to express themselves in creative ways within a privileged environment. Many argue that art has always been political, that all politics is "identity politics” and that this new trend within the canon merely addresses historical imbalances.