Joseph Beuys: From Artistic Theories to Socio-Political Activism
Journal cover Przegląd Politologiczny, no. 3, year 2025
PDF

Keywords

artivism
art
politics
political science and administration
Beuys

How to Cite

Wenderlich, P. (2025). Joseph Beuys: From Artistic Theories to Socio-Political Activism. Przegląd Politologiczny, (3), 187–200. https://doi.org/10.14746/pp.2025.30.3.13

Abstract

The aim of this article is to introduce the figure of Joseph Beuys to scholars of political science and administration and to explain the ideas promoted by this German activist, politician, and artist. The article focuses on analyzing Joseph Beuys’ concepts in the context of their significance for contemporary political science reflection. As an “artivist,” Beuys redefined the boundaries of art, treating it as a tool for social and political transformation. The author examines key aspects of Beuys’ concepts and activities, such as the idea of social sculpture, his involvement in the creation of social and political organizations, and his ecological initiatives, to better understand the methods and tools he used to achieve social and political goals. The key research question is as follows: Can Joseph Beuys’ concepts and actions be of interest from a political science perspective?

https://doi.org/10.14746/pp.2025.30.3.13
PDF

References

Adams D. (1992), Joseph Beuys: Pioneer of a Radical Ecology, “Art and Ecology”, vol. 51, no. 2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00043249.1992.10791563

Beuys J. (1979), Appeal for an Alternative, Centerfold, https://issuu.com/sethjordan/docs/beuys_appeal, 30.12.2024.

Beuys J. (1990), Teksty, komentarze, wywiady, Warszawa.

Beuys J. (1998), Każdy artystą, w: Antropologia kultury, red. G. Godlewski, L. Kolankiewicz, A. Mencwel, M. Pęczak, Warszawa.

Gotz A., Winifried K., Karin T. (1979), Joseph Beuys Life and Works, New York.

Harlan V. (ed.) (2004), What Is Art? Conversation with Joseph Beuys, UK.

Harlan V., Rappmann R., Schata P. (1976), Soziale Plastik: Materialien zu Joseph Beuys, Achberg.

Jordan C. (2016), Appealing for an Alternative: Ecology and Environmentalism in Joseph Beuys’ Projects of Social Sculpture, “Seismopolite. Journal of Art and Politics”, https://www.seismopolite.com/appealing-for-an-alternative-ecology-and-environmentalism-in-joseph-beuys-projects-of-social-sculpture, 30.12.2024.

Kaczmarek J. (2001), Joseph Beuys. Od sztuki do społecznej utopii, Poznań.

Klimke M., Scharloth J. (2008), 1968 in Europe: A History of Protest and Activism, 1956–1977, New York. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230611900

Kukiełko-Rogozińska K. (2012), Wszyscy jesteśmy artystami?: Marshall McLuhan i Joseph Beuys o społecznej roli sztuki, “Panoptikum”, no. 11(18).

Montagnino F. M. (2018), Joseph Beuys’ Rediscovery of Man – Nature Relationship: A Pioneering Experience of Open Social Innovation, “Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity”, no. 4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc4040050

Niziołek K. (2015), Sztuka społeczna. Koncepcje – dyskursy – praktyki, Białystok.

Ottomann C., Stollwerck P. L., Maier H., Gatty I., Muehlberger T. (2010), Joseph Beuys: trauma and catharsis, “Medical Humanities”, no. 36(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/jmh.2010.005595

Prawda jest konkretna. Artystyczne strategie w polityce. Podręcznik (2018), ed. F. Malzacher, Warszawa.

Social Sculpture Research Unit, http://www.social-sculpture.org/, 30.12.2024.

Strona internetowa documenta, Documenta 5, https://www.documenta.de/en/retrospective/documenta_5, 30.12.2024.

Strona internetowa documenta, Documenta 6, https://www.documenta.de/en/retrospective/documenta_6, 30.12.2024.

Strona internetowa documenta, Documenta 7, https://www.documenta.de/en/retrospective/documenta_7, 30.12.2024.

Tryka B. (2014), Polityczny wymiar sztuki – estetyczny wymiar polityki, “Roczniki Kulturoznawcze”, vol. 5, no. 4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18290/rkult.2015.6.2-10

Wołodzko A. (2017), Spotkania i mikroutopie. Sztuka partycypacyjna w Skandynawii, Gdańsk.

Zimmermann R. (1994), Kunst und Ökologie im Christentum – Die “7000 Eichen” von Joseph Beuys, Wiesbaden.