Degenerate Art: Understanding How Art is Used as Propaganda in Fascism

A Brief Introduction

Degenerate Art was the term given by the Nazi party to any artworks that did not feed into their cultural myth of Aryan supremacy and purity.

• Expressionism
• Dadaism
• art made by Jewish, Communist, Black, Southeastern Asian, and queer people
• erotic art (that did not depict fit white German bodies)
• art that critiqued war

Why is this relevant?

If you are not actively engaged with the art world, part of a marginalized group, have some knowledge of history, or otherwise know how fascists think about art, it can be difficult to understand how the topic of Degenerate art is relevant to us.

The rhetoric of Degenerate Art is a cornerstone of the contemporary right's thought and platform. This is not a topic most people learn about in school. As such, it's easy to accidentally adopt a reactionary approach to art you don't understand.

It is critical to remember this: Just because you dislike a piece of art does not mean it is morally bankrupt on principle.