Clout

By: María Mercedes Rudnikas

“Stitched” is an abstract piece made by the author, reflecting how we must break off, dissect, and reconstruct how we relate to the power structures in our lives, in a similar way that she does with her work.

Who can claim they are better than another?

Who can preach on a pedestal that can’t be matched?

We hide behind institutional illusions of superiority, “I know the valid truth” “this is of the utmost value” “that is more relevant”

Whether it's in aesthetics, politics, schools of thought…

Is there such a thing as superior art?

superior ideas?

superior deductions?

Institutions protect and disseminate “better” ideas, “better” thoughts, and “better” art,

but what are the costs?

Those who cannot generate clout are left behind.

Without contemporary followers or a name to back us, efforts are muted, left behind, disregarded…

Some contributions only coming to light after we pass.

There are harsh lines that explicitly divide us.

The universities that we attend.

The programs we participate in.

The industry that we belong to.

The ideas we identify with.

The people we know.

We passively become the social structures that surround us…

and slowly the lines of “objective” truth begin to be drawn.

The struggle for power is real… And yet increasingly difficult, since we have built tremendous power structures and algorithms that govern our experiences. We both seek and are sought by the institutions that simultaneously commodify and pervert our attention, nervous systems, and perceptions of the common world.

Clout is important in the world. But with it comes a critical responsibility. How can the new generation take hold? How can equality of opportunity be possible? How can we make sure a line is not drawn on a person’s potential to solve some of our biggest problems or make art that quells our angst?

Are these structures fundamentally human?

How can we even begin to answer that question?