Artists as influencers: the role of culture in conflicts

Artists increasingly take clear positions on political and war issues, especially the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Opinions polarize between those supporting boycott measures against Israel and those who, while condemning Israel, see such measures as divisive and harmful to non-supportive Israeli citizens. This raises the broader question of culture's role in a world marked by returning warfare. Historically, 20th-century conflicts deeply influenced art movements like Futurism and Dadaism during WWI, and works like Picasso's Guernica or Chaplin's The Great Dictator. The Vietnam War saw music play a decisive identity role. Censorship operated strongly: states shaped cultural expressions propagandistically, including through funding aligned artists. Amidst censorship and protest, individuals like the Monuments Men risked lives to save artworks. Today, artists also act as influencers, leveraging fame over cultural production to convey viewpoints. The lockdown period saw a surge in digital art, not free from economic interests. The Trump-Taylor Swift AI incident exemplifies celebrity influence on voting intentions. This shift from cultural to personal opinion influence merits systemic analysis: is it a productive lag, intermediation, industrial structure, or separation of industrial from cultural interests? Understanding this could deepen insight into culture's role in life.