Jonas Staal: In de kern beschouw ik het kunstenaarschap in termen van ‘visuele geletterdheid’: het is een engagement met als kern het vraagstuk van representatie. Hoe wij de wereld vertegenwoordigen, verbeelden, is een inherent politieke daad, want het is door die verbeelding dat wij ons capabel zien en de moed vinden om tot nieuwe vormen van handelen te komen. Artistieke verbeelding en politieke actie vormen in die zin elkaars voorwaarden. Aangepaste versie van het artikel ‘Een wereld maken’ dat verscheen in Metropolis M, nr.1 (2015).
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Debates about social theory and social policy are highly fragmented and unclear in subject and direction. A recognised paradigm is failing. Maybe we have to accept that social reality is not to reconstruct in social theory. But we certainly need social theorists and social theories to support citizens, policy makers and social workers in improving social reality. Social reality in post modern societies is to be characterized by problematic relationships among citizens and between citizens and the public sector and by a sharp rise in problematic behaviour. The affluent society has failed to create a more sensitive world where people behave more socially. The dominant social problem is no longer seen from a social economic perspective but from a social cultural one. Social competences and social capital are considerer to be essential assets to cope with life in post modern society. For people weak ties and thin trust are essential to integrate into society. Thick trust and strong ties can bind people to much and cause inflexibility. The current social problem is a matter of designing a social world where relationships and behaviour are fair and reasonable. It asks for an interesting and creative social policy and social work, not too much stressing the problematic issues but encouraging people to trust each other. Current social policy is too much focused on the needs and problems. It has to change into a more expressive social policy, a policy that people challenges to express them and to create new relationships. Social behaviour asks for flexibility and creativity, for being authentic and playing roles. Scientists, policymakers, social workers and citizens are in the same field and have access to the same knowledge.
