Dr Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci, senior lecturer in History of Arts, within the Faculty of Arts, University of Malta will be giving this talk/debate, which deals with the subversive nature of art, all forms of art. It is built upon the concept that art by its own definition is subversive, and that an eternal tragic relationship has always existed between the artist and state power, whether totalitarian or democratic. This debate will provide an excellent insight into the music being presented by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra on Friday the 23rd May in REVISITING A REVOLUTION, showcasing the works of Mussorgsky, Rachmaninov and Shostakovich.

The power structure of society has to take this dangerous character of art into account. On the other hand the artist is constantly challenging, sometimes tragically, such roots of power.

This state of affairs between art and power is centred on the position art adopts towards reality. How art identifies reality determines its approach. Art reacts to reality not within a vacuum, but within the power structure in which it exists, a power structure which ultimately ascertains the nature of reality. Reality is defined by power.

Date: Friday 16th May 2014

Time: 7:30pm

Venue: St. James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, Valletta

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/760472640639909/

The talk is open to the general public.

Click here to enlarge poster.