When producing art that has some sort of political purpose behind it (like persuading people, or conveying a message), don't forget to actually make it art. It can't just be politics.
This seems to contradict the nameless virtue
“The primary thing when you take a sword in your hands is your intention to cut the enemy, whatever the means. Whenever you parry, hit, spring, strike or touch the enemy’s cutting sword, you must cut the enemy in the same movement. It is essential to attain this. If you think only of hitting, springing, striking or touching the enemy, you will not be able actually to cut him. More than anything, you must be thinking of carrying your movement through to cutting him.”
The purpose of making politics into art is to harness the power of art for your politics. If you forget the art then you've lost that purpose.
Today's post, Politics and Awful Art was originally published on 20 December 2007. A summary (taken from the LW wiki):
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