Artistic Exceptionalism and the Risks of Activist Art

Abstract Activist artists often face a difficult question: is striving to change the world undermined when pursued through difficult and experimental artistic means? Looking closely at Adrian Piper’s Four Intruders Plus Alarm Systems (1980), I consider why this is an important concern for activist art and assess three different responses in relation to Piper’s work. What I call the ‘conciliatory stance’ recommends that when activist artists encounter misunderstanding, they should downplay their experimental artistry in favor of fitting their work to their audience’s appreciative capacities. What I call the ‘steadfast stance’ recommends that activist artists have reason to use their privilege of artistic exceptionalism to challenge their audience’s expectations, even if this leads to misunderstanding. I claim that a middle position, which I call ‘liberal conciliation’, best balances the demands for actual change placed on activism and the experimental means that artists bring to activism.