Stephen Willats

I feel that any thorough examination of how art relates to society is bound to observe two fundamental modes of operation:
Art that reinforces stereotypes of how we perceive society, while not necessarily originating them.
Art that originates and instigates changes in the stereotyped conventions for perceiving society
The first mode of operation is the most prevalent within society as it is inextricably bound up with the process of maintaining its status quo of values and beliefs.
1977
Printed in Society Through Art, Stephen Willats, Haags Centrum voor Aktuele Kunst, Den Haag, 1990