Art is both influenced by culture and shapes culture. Artists create from what they know. They draw inspiration from their experiences and the events that happen around them. And they use the lens of their philosophy to give meaning to their art.
As libertarians, we put emphasis on the concept of the individual being: the rights of the individual, self ownership, personal responsibility, and freedom of expression. Artists are on a quest to show the world their individuality. They strive to be say things in a different way that no one has quite heard before, to put colors in a new pattern, to arrange words in a new way, to play notes with new sounds. To create art is to fulfill some of the basic principles of libertarianism by expressing our individuality.
Art imitates life and life imitates Art. There have been bands and artists with libertarian themes throughout the past few decades. Think about bands like Rush, Muse, NOFX, Bob Dylan, Rage Against the Machine, and so many others. Think about their impact on culture. In 2023, we saw Oliver Anthony’s song “Rich Men North Of Richmond” go viral as an anti establishment anthem.
But, unfortunately, not all of these artists claim the title “libertarian.” I want to see more people who are proudly libertarian making good art, whether it’s music, film, books, painting, anything.
Our art doesn’t have to be political, but it can be.
I grew up listening to Christian punk rock music, and something big was happening to the music industry during the 90s. “Christian music” had become its own segment within the larger music industry, and it was rapidly growing. But people began to question what the term even meant. How does one define “Christian music”? How many times does a band need to say Jesus, for them to be a “Christian band”?
There were some people who decided that an artist should be able to write about anything they want, but it will always be painted by their personal philosophy. Some musicians started to say things like “we are Christians in a band”.
Similarly, we don’t have to create “libertarian art.” We can simply be libertarians who MAKE art. Not everything we do has to be related to political or economic ideas. We can write about whatever inspires us. But our philosophy will always be there to shape the way we create.
The world desperately needs more libertarians who make art.
Art has a special way of shaping culture. Art has a way of teaching us lessons we might otherwise have rejected. It can speak truths that we may otherwise not want to hear. Art can reach people who might not listen to anyone else. And because of this, it can be a powerful tool in defining our future.
Just as our political system is dominated by two awful parties, the arts and entertainment industry is also dominated by conservatives and progressives. They may not categorize themselves as such, but most people in the art and entertainment industry belong in one of those two groups, simply because much of the population is in one of those two groups.
But, if you are reading this, you are probably well aware that there are more than just two political ideologies. Libertarianism contains many factions, and can work along with many ideologies that are not the two dominant ones. Libertarians, anarchists, Voluntaryists, classical liberals, and so on, all exist. We should not be absent from the world of art. We need to actively be involved. We need to be connecting with artists and working together.
My goal for Libertarians Who Make Art is to create a community of creative libertarians so that we can help each other grow more successful and have a larger impact on culture.
So remember, friends,
Be creative. Make art. Spread liberty.
This article was originally published on Libertarians Who Make Art.
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