The democratisation of culture became even stronger when music was accessible to all, first in the US and later in Europe in the 1950s. Almost everybody has the means to go to the movies. It opened the doors for the least-favoured because it was affordable. READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH IRANIAN STREET ARTISTS ICY & SOTĬulture for the masses appeared with the arrival of the cinema. They would write books, play music or do some acting for the educated elite. In my grandparents time, in the early 20th century, only a few people had access to culture. So, my life was shaped by the culture and events of two different centuries. My father was born in 1914 and my grandfather in 1880. I was educated by people who had received an education from the 19th century. One of Blek’s signature images, “Computer Man” Some of us carry the burden of one’s culture, others don’t … we need food to live, just as we need culture to develop ourselves.

DONATE NOW “We need food to live, just as we need culture to develop ourselves.”Įverybody has their own culture made up of what we have seen, learned, and loved in our lives. He was one of the first graffiti artists in Paris, and is the founding father of the stencil street art movement.īlek Le Rat with his famous image “Man Walking Through Walls.” Notice the resemblance? This Week’s Thought Leader: Blek le Rat, one of the most influential street artists of our time. Image above by Shafiur Rahman/ Six Oranges.Ĭulture: So What?!? Each week, we ask thought leaders from all walks of life to answer the question: What is Culture and Why Does it Matter? Please consider making a tax-deductible donation now so we can keep publishing strong creative voices. By considering a tax-deductible donation to support our collective cultural conversations. It is one of 100 reasons why we ask you to support our efforts. This essay was originally published in 2014.

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