Don't Look Away: Art, Nonviolence, and Preventive Publics in Contemporary Europe

Contemporary art plays a crucial role in developing a public commitment to end structural violence in Europe, particularly through the work of artists such as Harun Farocki, Thomas Hirschhorn, and Henry VIIIs Wives. Their recursive art practices offer a sustained counter to the violence perpetuated against precarious peoples, reflecting on flashpoints of violence and vulnerability across Europe. Cohen advocates for the imaginative potential of art to change mindsets and foster a nonviolent social imaginary.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 12 May 2023
Publisher: Duke University Press

In her captivating essay, "Don't Look Away," Brianne Cohen delves into the profound role of contemporary art in cultivating a collective commitment to eradicate structural violence across Europe. Cohen's insightful analysis centers on the art activism of the early twenty-first century, specifically focusing on the powerful voices that challenge the insidious slow violence perpetrated against vulnerable communities. Through a meticulous exploration of the works of German filmmaker Harun Farocki, Swiss artist Thomas Hirschhorn, and the art collective Henry VIIIs Wives, Cohen compellingly argues that these artists' recursive art practices offer a more sustainable and effective resistance to the violence that underpins the public sphere. Their art serves as a poignant reflection on a diverse range of flashpoints of violence and vulnerability in Europe, encompassing the haunting legacy of the Holocaust, the pervasive specter of Islamophobia, and the escalating anti-immigrant sentiment. Recognizing the pervasiveness of fear-based publics fostered by this violence, Cohen asserts that art holds the potential to cultivate ethical and civil connections between strangers, transcending physical and virtual boundaries.

In contrast to art-critical practices that prioritize direct action, Cohen advocates for the imaginative, messy, and often elusive realm of art to shape mindsets and nurture a nonviolent social imaginary. By harnessing the power of aesthetics, artists can inspire empathy, provoke thought, and challenge societal norms, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and compassionate society. Through their profound works, Harun Farocki, Thomas Hirschhorn, and Henry VIIIs Wives remind us of the transformative power of art in shaping a better world, where the beauty of human connection transcends the boundaries of difference and violence.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478016816