Politics  

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 +[[Image:The Death of Marat by Jacques-Louis David (1793).jpg|thumb|left|200px|''[[The Death of Marat]]'' ([[1793]]) by [[Jacques-Louis David]]]]
 +{| class="toccolours" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 2em; font-size: 85%; background:#c6dbf7; color:black; width:30em; max-width: 40%;" cellspacing="5"
 +| style="text-align: left;" |
 +"[[All efforts to render politics aesthetic culminate in one thing: war]]" --Walter Benjamin
 +<hr>
 +"Legislators and leaders of men, such as [[Lycurgus of Sparta |Lycurgus]], [[Solon]], [[Muhammad |Mahomet]], [[Napoleon]], and so on, were all without exception [[criminal]]s, from the very fact that, making a new law they [[transgressive|transgressed]] the ancient one, handed down from their ancestors and held sacred by the people, and they did not stop short at bloodshed either, if that bloodshed often of innocent persons [[fight]]ing bravely in defence of ancient law were of use to their cause." -- Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov in ''[[Crime and Punishment]]''
 +<hr>
 +In ''[[Notes on Democracy]]'', American satirist H. L. Mencken places [[political leader]]s into two categories: the [[demagogue]], whom "preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be [[idiot]]s" and the demaslave, "who listens to what these idiots have to say and then pretends that he believes it himself." Mencken depicts [[politician]]s as "men who have sold their honor for their jobs." The book contains the notable quotes from Mencken that "Democracy is a pathetic belief in the [[collective wisdom]] of individual ignorance." and that "Democracy, too, is a religion. It is the worship of jackals by jackasses."
 +|}
 +[[Image:Eugène Delacroix - La liberté guidant le peuple.jpg|thumb|200px|This page '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is part of the [[sociology]] series.<br><small>Illustration:''[[Liberty Leading the People]]'' (1831, detail) by [[Eugène Delacroix]].</small>]]
 +[[Image:Napoléon Bonaparte abdicated in Fontainebleau.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Napoléon Bonaparte abdicated in Fontainebleau]] (1845) by [[Paul Delaroche]]]]
 +[[Image:Les Poires.jpg|200px|thumb|right|''[[Les Poires]]'', as sold separately to cover the expenses of a trial of [[Le Charivari]]]]
{{Template}} {{Template}}
-'''Politics''' is the process by which groups make decisions. It is the authoritative allocation of values. Although the term is generally applied to behavior within [[government]]s, politics is observed in all human group interactions, including [[corporation|corporate]], [[academia|academic]], and [[religion|religious]] institutions.+'''Politics''' (from Greek Politiká: ''Politika'', definition "affairs of the cities") is the process of making decisions applying to all members of each group. More narrowly, it refers to achieving and exercising positions of [[governance]] — organized control over a human community, particularly a [[State (polity)|state]]. Furthermore, politics is the study or practice of the [[distribution]] of [[power]] and [[resource]]s within a given community (this is usually a hierarchically organized population) as well as the interrelationship(s) between communities.
-In its most basic form, politics consists of "social relations involving authority or power". In practice, the term refers to the regulation and [[government]] of a [[nation-state]] or other political unit, and to the methods and tactics used to formulate and apply government [[policy]]. +A variety of methods are deployed in politics, which include promoting or forcing one's own political views among people, [[negotiation]] with other political subjects, making [[law]]s, and exercising [[force (law)|force]], including [[warfare]] against adversaries. Politics is exercised on a wide range of social levels, from [[clans]] and [[tribes]] of traditional societies, through modern [[local government]]s, [[company|companies]] and institutions up to [[sovereign state]]s, to the [[international politics|international level]].
-In a broader sense, any situation involving [[power]], or any maneouvring in order to enhance one's [[power]] or [[status]] within a group, may be described as politics (e.g. office politics). This form of politics "is most associated with a struggle for ascendancy among groups having different priorities and power relations." +It is very often said that politics is about power. A [[political system]] is a framework which defines acceptable political methods within a given society. [[History of political thought]] can be traced back to early antiquity, with seminal works such as [[Plato]]'s ''[[Republic (Plato)|Republic]]'', [[Aristotle]]'s ''[[Politics (Aristotle)|Politics]]'' and the works of [[Confucius]].
-[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{PAGENAMEE}}] [Apr 2007]+== Influential literature in political science==
-== Political cinema ==+* ''[[The Art of War]]'' &ndash; by [[Sun Tsu]] (c. 544–496 BC)
-'''Political Cinema''' in the narrow sense of the term is a cinema which portrays current or historical events or social conditions in a partisan way in order to inform or to agitate the spectator. Political cinema exists in different forms such as [[documentary film|documentaries]], feature films, or even animated and [[experimental film]]s. +* ''[[History of the Peloponnesian War]]'' by [[Thucydides]] (c. 460 – c. 400 BC)
-[[Political cinema|...]]+* ''[[The Republic (Plato)|The Republic]]'' &ndash; by [[Plato]] (427–347 BC)
 +* ''[[Laws (dialogue)|Laws]]'' &ndash; by [[Plato]] (427–347 BC)
 +* ''[[Politics (Aristotle)|The Politics]]'' &ndash; [[Aristotle]] (384–322 BC)
 +* ''[[Nicomachean Ethics]]'' &ndash; [[Aristotle]] (384–322 BC)
 +* ''[[Arthashastra]]'' &ndash; [[Chanakya]] (c. 350–283 BC)
 +* ''[[Meditations]]'' &ndash; ''[[Marcus Aurelius|Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor 161–180 CE]]''
 +* ''[[The Prince]]'' &ndash; by Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527)
 +* ''[[The Book of Five Rings]]'' &ndash; [[Miyamoto Musashi]] (c. 1584––1645)
 +* ''[[The Wealth of Nations]]'' &ndash; by [[Adam Smith]] (1723–1790)
 +* ''[[On War]] &ndash; by [[Carl von Clausewitz]] (1780–1831)
 +* ''[[Leviathan (Hobbes book)|Leviathan]]'' &ndash; [[Thomas Hobbes]] (1588–1679)
 +* ''[[The Communist Manifesto]]'' &ndash; by [[Karl Marx]] (1818-1883)
 + 
 +==Politics and culture==
 +=== Political art ===
 +:''[[Political art]]''
 + 
 +'''Political art''' includes anything from [[anarcho-punk]] to [[culture jamming]], from [[political literature]] to [[social realism]], from [[political cinema]] to [[protest art]]. The term [[artivist]] come to mind. Think the [[Notre-Dame Affair]] and ''[[The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction]]''.
 + 
 +It is the opposite of [[aestheticism]] and [[art for art's sake]].
 + 
 +=== Political satire===
 +:''[[Political satire]]''
 + 
 +'''Political satire''' is a significant part of [[satire]] that specializes in gaining entertainment from [[politics]]; it has also been used with subversive intent where [[Political discourse analysis|political speech]] and dissent are forbidden by a regime, as a method of advancing political arguments where such arguments are expressly forbidden.
 + 
 +Political satire is usually distinguished from political [[protest]] or [[political dissent]], as it does not necessarily carry an agenda nor seek to influence the political process. While occasionally it may, it more commonly aims simply to provide entertainment. By its very nature, it rarely offers a constructive view in itself; when it is used as part of protest or dissent, it tends to simply establish the error of matters rather than provide solutions.
 + 
 +=== Political fiction ===
 +:''[[Political fiction]], [[The pen is mightier than the sword]]''
 + 
 +'''Political fiction''' is a [[subgenre]] of [[fiction]] that deals with [[political affairs]]. Political fiction has often used [[narrative]] to provide [[Political commentary|commentary]] on [[political]] events, systems and theories.
 + 
 +Prominent pieces of political fiction have included the [[Totalitarianism|totalitarian]] [[dystopia]]s of the early 20th century such as Jack London's ''[[The Iron Heel]]'' and Sinclair Lewis's ''[[It Can't Happen Here]]''. Equally influential, if not more so, however, have been earlier pieces of political fiction such as ''[[Gulliver's Travels]]'' (1726), ''[[Candide]]'' (1759) and ''[[Uncle Tom's Cabin]]'' (1852). Political fiction frequently employs the literary modes of [[satire]], often in the genres of [[Utopian and dystopian fiction]] or [[social science fiction]].
 + 
 +=== Music and politics ===
 +:''[[Music and politics]]''
 +There is a long history of the connection between '''music and politics''', particularly [[politics|political expression]] in [[music]]. This expression can use [[anti-establishment]] or [[protest song|protest]] themes, including [[anti-war song]]s, although pro-establishment ideas are also used, for example in [[national anthem]]s, [[Patriotism|patriotic]] [[songs]], and [[political campaigns]]. Many of these types of songs could be described as [[topical song]]s.
 + 
 +Unlike many other types of music, political music is not usually ambiguous, and is used to portray a specific political message. While the political message in political music is apparent, it is usually in the political context of the time it was made--which makes understanding the historical events and time that inspired the music essential to fully understanding the message in the music.
 + 
 +Since political music is meant to be heard by the people, it is often meant to be popular.
 + 
 +=== Political theatre ===
 +:''[[Political theatre]]''
 +In the [[history of theatre]], there is long tradition of performances addressing issues of current events and central to society itself, encouraging consciousness and social change. The [[political satire]] performed by the [[comic poets]] at the [[Ancient Greek theatre|theatres]], had considerable influence on [[public opinion]] in the [[Athenian democracy]]. Those earlier Western dramas, arising out of the [[polis]], or democratic [[city-state]] of Greek society, were performed in amphitheatres, central arenas used for theatrical performances, religious ceremonies and political gatherings; these dramas had a ritualistic and social significance that enhanced the relevance of the political issues being examined. And one must marvel at the open-minded examination of controversial and critical topics that took place right in the political heart of [[Athenian]] society, allowing a courageous self-examination of the first democracy trying to develop and refine itself further
 + 
 +[[Shakespeare]] is an author of political theatre according to some academic scholars, who observe that his history plays examine the machinations of personal drives and passions determining political activity and that many of the tragedies such as ''[[King Lear]]'' and ''[[Macbeth]]'' dramatize political leadership and complexity subterfuges of human beings driven by the lust for power; for example, they observe that [[class struggle]] in the [[Roman Republic]] is central to [[Coriolanus]].
 + 
 +Political theatre is sometimes referred to as '''agitprop theatre''' or simply '''agitprop''', after the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] term [[agitprop]].
 + 
 +=== Political cinema ===
 +:''[[Political cinema]]''
 + 
 +'''Political Cinema''' in the narrow sense of the term is a cinema which portrays current or historical events or social conditions in a [[partisan]] way in order to inform or to agitate the spectator. Political cinema exists in different forms such as [[documentary film|documentaries]], feature films, or even animated and [[experimental film]]s.
 +== See also ==
 +*[[Politics and art]]
 +*[[Political scandal]]
 +*[[Dog-whistle politics]]
 + 
 +{{GFDL}}

Revision as of 16:51, 9 February 2019

"All efforts to render politics aesthetic culminate in one thing: war" --Walter Benjamin


"Legislators and leaders of men, such as Lycurgus, Solon, Mahomet, Napoleon, and so on, were all without exception criminals, from the very fact that, making a new law they transgressed the ancient one, handed down from their ancestors and held sacred by the people, and they did not stop short at bloodshed either, if that bloodshed often of innocent persons fighting bravely in defence of ancient law were of use to their cause." -- Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment


In Notes on Democracy, American satirist H. L. Mencken places political leaders into two categories: the demagogue, whom "preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots" and the demaslave, "who listens to what these idiots have to say and then pretends that he believes it himself." Mencken depicts politicians as "men who have sold their honor for their jobs." The book contains the notable quotes from Mencken that "Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." and that "Democracy, too, is a religion. It is the worship of jackals by jackasses."

This page Politics is part of the sociology series.Illustration:Liberty Leading the People (1831, detail) by Eugène Delacroix.
Enlarge
This page Politics is part of the sociology series.
Illustration:Liberty Leading the People (1831, detail) by Eugène Delacroix.
Les Poires, as sold separately to cover the expenses of a trial of Le Charivari
Enlarge
Les Poires, as sold separately to cover the expenses of a trial of Le Charivari

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Politics (from Greek Politiká: Politika, definition "affairs of the cities") is the process of making decisions applying to all members of each group. More narrowly, it refers to achieving and exercising positions of governance — organized control over a human community, particularly a state. Furthermore, politics is the study or practice of the distribution of power and resources within a given community (this is usually a hierarchically organized population) as well as the interrelationship(s) between communities.

A variety of methods are deployed in politics, which include promoting or forcing one's own political views among people, negotiation with other political subjects, making laws, and exercising force, including warfare against adversaries. Politics is exercised on a wide range of social levels, from clans and tribes of traditional societies, through modern local governments, companies and institutions up to sovereign states, to the international level.

It is very often said that politics is about power. A political system is a framework which defines acceptable political methods within a given society. History of political thought can be traced back to early antiquity, with seminal works such as Plato's Republic, Aristotle's Politics and the works of Confucius.

Contents

Influential literature in political science

Politics and culture

Political art

Political art

Political art includes anything from anarcho-punk to culture jamming, from political literature to social realism, from political cinema to protest art. The term artivist come to mind. Think the Notre-Dame Affair and The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction.

It is the opposite of aestheticism and art for art's sake.

Political satire

Political satire

Political satire is a significant part of satire that specializes in gaining entertainment from politics; it has also been used with subversive intent where political speech and dissent are forbidden by a regime, as a method of advancing political arguments where such arguments are expressly forbidden.

Political satire is usually distinguished from political protest or political dissent, as it does not necessarily carry an agenda nor seek to influence the political process. While occasionally it may, it more commonly aims simply to provide entertainment. By its very nature, it rarely offers a constructive view in itself; when it is used as part of protest or dissent, it tends to simply establish the error of matters rather than provide solutions.

Political fiction

Political fiction, The pen is mightier than the sword

Political fiction is a subgenre of fiction that deals with political affairs. Political fiction has often used narrative to provide commentary on political events, systems and theories.

Prominent pieces of political fiction have included the totalitarian dystopias of the early 20th century such as Jack London's The Iron Heel and Sinclair Lewis's It Can't Happen Here. Equally influential, if not more so, however, have been earlier pieces of political fiction such as Gulliver's Travels (1726), Candide (1759) and Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852). Political fiction frequently employs the literary modes of satire, often in the genres of Utopian and dystopian fiction or social science fiction.

Music and politics

Music and politics

There is a long history of the connection between music and politics, particularly political expression in music. This expression can use anti-establishment or protest themes, including anti-war songs, although pro-establishment ideas are also used, for example in national anthems, patriotic songs, and political campaigns. Many of these types of songs could be described as topical songs.

Unlike many other types of music, political music is not usually ambiguous, and is used to portray a specific political message. While the political message in political music is apparent, it is usually in the political context of the time it was made--which makes understanding the historical events and time that inspired the music essential to fully understanding the message in the music.

Since political music is meant to be heard by the people, it is often meant to be popular.

Political theatre

Political theatre

In the history of theatre, there is long tradition of performances addressing issues of current events and central to society itself, encouraging consciousness and social change. The political satire performed by the comic poets at the theatres, had considerable influence on public opinion in the Athenian democracy. Those earlier Western dramas, arising out of the polis, or democratic city-state of Greek society, were performed in amphitheatres, central arenas used for theatrical performances, religious ceremonies and political gatherings; these dramas had a ritualistic and social significance that enhanced the relevance of the political issues being examined. And one must marvel at the open-minded examination of controversial and critical topics that took place right in the political heart of Athenian society, allowing a courageous self-examination of the first democracy trying to develop and refine itself further

Shakespeare is an author of political theatre according to some academic scholars, who observe that his history plays examine the machinations of personal drives and passions determining political activity and that many of the tragedies such as King Lear and Macbeth dramatize political leadership and complexity subterfuges of human beings driven by the lust for power; for example, they observe that class struggle in the Roman Republic is central to Coriolanus.

Political theatre is sometimes referred to as agitprop theatre or simply agitprop, after the Soviet term agitprop.

Political cinema

Political cinema

Political Cinema in the narrow sense of the term is a cinema which portrays current or historical events or social conditions in a partisan way in order to inform or to agitate the spectator. Political cinema exists in different forms such as documentaries, feature films, or even animated and experimental films.

See also




Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Politics" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.

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