The so-called “purity” of art is thus a form of artificial childhood. Just as the Chinese bind the feet of their women in order to keep them helpless and acquiescent, so ruling-class culture binds the imagination of the race so that it may not stride into the future. And if you think that those who run the world’s thinking for the ruling class are not intelligent enough to formulate such a purpose as this—my reply is that you are as unintelligent as they would wish you to be, and you justify all the contempt they feel for you.
CHAPTER VII
MRS. OGI EMERGES
We now assume as demonstrated the following propositions. First:
The artist is a social product, his psychology and that of his art works being determined by the economic forces prevailing in his time.
And second:
The established artist of any period is a man in sympathy with the ruling classes of that period, and voicing their interests and ideals.
If this be true, the next step to the understanding of art, and the history of art periods past and present, is to understand the economic forces controlling mankind; the evolution and struggle of classes.
We get that far, when the argument is broken in upon by the particular Mrs. Ogi who inhabits the cave where this manuscript is produced. Says Mrs. Ogi: “In other words, you are going to give them your Socialist lecture.”
Says Mrs. Ogi’s husband: “But—”
Says Mrs. Ogi, who finishes her husband’s sentences, as well as his manuscripts: “You promised me to write one book without propaganda!”