Hans Hess T-shirt: The Goods Have Become The Gods

Hess discusses how artists now serve capitalism as they once served their gods. Throughout the centuries the artist has always been a myth-maker, i.e. a creator of illusions. In our industrial society the artist retains their traditional role of mythmakers, and the new myth is called ‘Art’. When society stopped believing in myths, people – including artists - honestly believed that Art itself could take the place of religion. Hess mentions the many statements of 19th-century artists saying that art is seen as a mission, as the salvation of humankind. The artist makes products, images ‘in which men picture their aspirations’. The work of art evolves from being a purely functional piece, a social part of labour, to becoming a commodity, or ‘Art’ with a fetish dimension. These ‘goods’ have a price determined by their prestige and status: what people are buying is the myth of art. Modern artists have created the myth of the autonomy of art, and of the independent genius, but the works of art they produce disseminate the ideology of the ruling class: the artist ‘is only a tool in that greater social machinery which owns and controls him’.  

The texts gathered in Hans Hess: Selected Writings are tools for thinking about and questioning art, the artist, art history, and ideology. Expanding on the writings of Marx,  Hess discusses the evolving role and status of the artist. Art and the artist have always played an important ideological role in society – and in the class struggle. A work of art cannot be understood if taken out of its social and ideological context. Art has always been an instrument of power, especially for the ruling ideology. The first volume focuses on art in the 19th century.

PRODUCT DETAILS:
100% Cotton
Classic width, rib collar
Taped neck and shoulders 
Classic fit