A Reaction to Patrick Flores’ Teaching/Learning the Humanities in Other Words/Worlds

The essay has made me realize a way out of this false dilemma between low and high art. It has pointed out that the sacralization of culture contributes to the maintenance of the social order. Therefore, the point is not to choose between high or low art but precisely to challenge the conditions of possibility for such divide to exist. These conditions stem from a hierarchical social order that excludes the majority form its acts of consecration. Therefore, art appreciation, production and criticism cannot be separated from issues concerning social justice. At this point, art and all else is produced under the conditions of the reified existence of people. Therefore, it is necessary to appreciate the imperative to change the conditions of our existence in order to produce art that will signify the full potential of our labor rather than an art that will perpetuate already oppressive and exploitative social relations in society.

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