Against Morality — Rosanna McLaughlin

Should art be shaped by political ideals? In recent decades, art institutions have embraced liberal values like equality and social justice. But with this shift has come increased scrutiny – artists now navigate a landscape where their work is judged for its political alignment. In this incisive study, Rosanna McLaughlin explores the impact of moralising art through contemporary exhibitions, artworks, films, and their cultural reception. She challenges the idea that art must serve politics, questioning whether such a relationship should exist at all. By arguing against morality in the arts, McLaughlin opens the door to a more expansive understanding of difference in twenty-first-century art.