This installment of my comic strip Jillpoke Bohemia touches on a subject that I, as a politicized music fan, still struggle with. I welcome your thoughts, comments, questions, etc. Should artists–musicians, writers, etc.–strive to avoid ideology and partisanship? Protest music is one thing–I’m all for that, when it’s done well. Ranting against the powers that be is not the issue. Siding with the powers that be is. Yes, I voted for Obama, but it kinda bothered me that Springsteen and other artists I admire were out stumping for him. I know it was a critical election, and of course it would have bothered me more to see the Boss endorsing Romney, but I’m not sure artists should ever be siding with the state, no matter who’s in power. Never mind that it’s bad form–it just feels wrong for an independent artist to be alingning herself/himself with the military industrial state. How do you speak truth to power when you’re hugging and kissing it?
