The Role of Art in Shaping Perceptions

Art and images play a crucial role in shaping our political and social realities by constructing narratives about who belongs and who counts in society. Sarah Lewis argues that while some may consider race a mere fiction, it is a fiction that society has perpetuated through visual representation. This perpetuation demands a closer examination of how these visuals can reinforce or challenge existing power structures. By analyzing various forms of visual culture, Lewis reveals how art has turned the fictional notion of race into a damaging and culturally accepted reality.