01-May-2012 12:00 AM
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The contemporary times stand witness to a constant deterioration of meaning of art and manipulation of theoretical social and political concepts as well as their practical significance. Whether they are questions as serious as social and political concerns of human rights or social exclusion affecting a dignified human survival, or as sensitive as the waning of interest in classical art forms, they call for an urgent need to revisit and discuss the prevalent conceptions.
Art has its unique way of reviving our soul from deadening monotonous routines through its multiple intricate expressions. Forming a singular perception of art or attributing a definitive meaning to it often reduces art from its fascinating complexity and expressive charm. This reductive approach confines art to its modernist understanding, which then fails to take cognizance of the artistic abstraction expressed through different forms and styles.
The Raza Foundation through its series ‘Art Matters’ provides a platform for open discussion on such issues. It endeavors not only to release the true essence of art from the clutches of definitive modernist approach in order to grasp myriad ways of extolling art, but also to stir up debate on the changing meanings of social and political theoretical concepts like rights, justice, liberty, citizenship, etc. Well known, renowned scholars and practitioners from all the diverse fields of arts, dance, music, social science, poetry, and so on are invited for this purpose.
Here, we publish the second panel discussion of ‘Art Matters’, titled ‘The Disappearing Criticism’’ featuring Sadanand Menon, Kulddep Kumar and Anjana Rajan.
Sadanand Menon , a nationally reputed arts editor, popular teacher of cultural journalism, widely published photographer and prolific writer and speaker at seminars on politics, ecology, cinema and the arts, he has been central to the debates around contemporizing Indian dance through his collaboration with legendary choreographer Chandralekha. He is currently on the executive committee of the Central Lalit Kala Akademi, and member, National Museums Committte. He is also Adjunct Faculty, Asian College of Journalism, Chennai.
The event was organised at the Indian International Centre on 5th of May 2012.