Critiques of Racism in Art: Strong Reactions Against Racism after Death
This study examines how art has become an effective tool in the fight against racism and its role in achieving social justice. The attitudes of artists who criticise racism in art during racist deaths are evaluated through their works. In this context, three tragic events were identified and the critical attitudes of artists and their works on these events were analysed. In the study, artworks were analysed through the discourse analysis method and it was evaluated how artists expressed their anti-racist criticisms in their works. In particular, events such as the tragic death of Aylan Kurdi, the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement have created a global universality and encouraged reactions to racial inequalities through artworks. By analysing the content and visual elements of the artworks within the framework of discourse analysis, it is examined how they offer a critical perspective against systemic racism and how they structure the discourse of social justice. In their works, the artists both criticise systemic racism and advocate for social justice. This study examines the expansion of directive activism, detailing the revolutionary power of art against racial injustice and violence. This study aims to make an important contribution to understanding the transformative power of art in confronting and resisting racism, and examines in detail the contributions and reactions of artists in this process and the role of art in the struggle for social justice through discourse analysis.
Sanatta Irkçılık Eleştirileri: Ölümler Sonrası Irkçılığa Karşı Güçlü Çıkışlar
Bu çalışma, sanatın ırkçılıkla mücadelesinde nasıl etkili bir araç haline geldiği ve sosyal adaletin sağlanmasında üstlendiği rolü incelemektedir. Sanatta ırkçılık eleştirileri sunan sanatçıların, ırkçı ölümler sırasında sergilediği tutumları eserler aracılığıyla değerlendirilmiştir. Bu kapsamda üç trajik olay belirlenmiş ve bu olaylar üzerine sanatçı ve eserlerinin eleştirel tutumları incelenmiştir. Çalışmada sanat eserleri, söylem analizi yöntemiyle incelenmiş ve sanatçıların eserlerinde ırkçılık karşıtı eleştirilerini nasıl dile getirdikleri değerlendirilmiştir. Özellikle Aylan Kurdi’nin trajik ölümü, George Floyd’un ölümü ve Black Lives Matter hareketi gibi olaylar, küresel çapta bir evrensellik yaratmış ve ırksal eşitsizliklere karşı sanat eserleriyle tepkileri teşvik etmiştir. Sanat eserlerinin içerik ve görsel unsurları söylem analizi çerçevesinde ele alınarak, sistemsel ırkçılığa karşı nasıl bir eleştirel bakış sunduğu ve sosyal adalet söylemini nasıl yapılandırdığı incelenmiştir. Sanatçılar, çalışmalarında hem sistemsel ırkçılığa karşı eleştiriler sunmakta hem de sosyal adaletin savunuculuğunu yapmaktadır. Çalışma, ırksal adaletsizlik ve şiddete karşı sanatın devrimci gücünü detaylandırarak, yönlendirici aktivizmin genişlemesini incelemektedir. Bu çalışma, sanatın ırkçılıkla yüzleşme ve direnmedeki dönüştürücü gücünü anlamaya yönelik önemli bir katkı sağlamayı amaçlamakta, sanatçıların bu süreçteki katkılarını ve tepkilerini, sanatın sosyal adalet mücadelesindeki rolünü söylem analizi yöntemiyle detaylı bir şekilde incelemektedir
In this study, within the scope of the criticism of racism in art, the impact of the deaths of people who have been subjected to racism within the scope of social movements is discussed. In particular, the study evaluates three events. Events such as Aylan Kurdi, George Floyd and Black Lives Matter, which caused wide reactions in the social sphere, were analysed. These events not only caused social reactions but also received the reactions of many artists in the art world. Artists who reacted to these deaths expressed them in their works. While these reactions found a place in the art world, they also attracted considerable attention on social media. For example, the critical works of artists such as Banksy on Aylan Kurdi and George Floyd have received a great deal of interaction in the world. Again, the Black Lives Matter movement has been a movement that has made as much noise around the world as it has in the USA. This study examines in depth how art responds to social events and the impact of these responses on antiracist movements. Aylan Kurdi, George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement were not only individual tragedies, but also symbols of a global demand for change. The reverberations of these events in the art world have emerged through artists’ responses to such painful events.
While the tragic death of Aylan Kurdi revealed the human face of the refugee crisis, artists have addressed this event in different ways. Banksy’s mural reminding us that Steve Jobs was Syrian in the memory of Aylan Kurdi is a striking example to emphasise the importance of this issue. In the eyes of the viewers, this work was more than just a work of art; it functioned as a social questioning and sensitisation. This power of art has become even more visible with the rapid spread of posts on social media. Instagram, Twitter and other platforms have allowed artists to share their works with large audiences and increased the visibility of social movements. When artworks are shared on these platforms, they create empathy in the audience and provide an opportunity to think more deeply about social issues. In particular, when artists share artworks directly related to social issues, it raises awareness of these issues and can mobilise audiences.
George Floyd’s death marked a turning point in the struggle against systematic racism in the United States. Floyd’s death mobilised many artists. By referencing these events in their works, the artists conveyed strong messages of social justice, equality and human rights. For example, the works produced by African-American artists during this period are a call for social change.
The impact of the Black Lives Matter movement was not limited to the United States; it led to the emergence of similar protests and art events in many countries around the world. Artists have taken a stance against racism by producing works in solidarity with this global movement. Social media platforms enabled these artworks to reach wider audiences, strengthening the role of art in social movements. The virilization of the artworks both raised awareness among the audience and added an artistic dimension to the social struggle.
In conclusion, events such as Aylan Kurdi, George Floyd and Black Lives Matter show how important a tool art can be in the struggle for social justice and equality. By drawing attention to social issues through these events, artists have created a strong impact both in the art world and on social media. Such artistic responses are not only a reaction in the struggle against racism, but also a call for change. Events such as Aylan Kurdi, George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement have caused us to rethink the role of art in social change. As art is shaped by reactions to such traumatic events, it becomes a reflection of social consciousness and the search for justice. This process gives artists not only a means of expression, but, also the opportunity to become active participants in social transformation. Art thus becomes not only an aesthetic experience but also a powerful tool for social change.
