Strategies to restore art to its central role in society. Aesthetic, political, historical, and psychosocial implications.

Abstract

Historically, art has been fundamental to humanity, serving as the best method for preserving collective memory and identity. However, the text warns that contemporary society faces a cultural crisis: hyperconsumption and mass entertainment reduce artistic works and artists to mere ephemeral commodities, leading to the concept of ephemeral cultures. Given this scenario, the artist can do as they please with their work, but the true transformation lies in the role of the cultural mediator and the audience. To abandon passive consumption and achieve aesthetic autonomy, it is necessary to progress through the five stages of Michael J. Parsons' aesthetic development, evolving from basic sensory taste to critical judgment and collective interpretation based on emotional detachment. Various current disruptions—such as the Senior Spectator School at Nave 10 Matadero or Erykah Badu's sound baths—seek to counteract digital immediacy. As a solution, the text proposes slow, collective walks inspired by Butoh dance within public spaces. This strategy demonstrates that restoring art to its central role requires three pillars: prolonged contemplation, symbolic interpretation from a distance, and critical participation.