Chapter One: Introduction and Problem Statement
Art has social significance and a social function, which might be defined as the
transformation of desire into reality, reality into dreams and change, and back
again. I see effective art as that which offers a vehicle for perceiving and
understanding any aspect of life, from direct social change, to metaphors for
emotion and interaction, to the most abstract conceptions in visual form. Such art
is not, however, effective simply by being created, but by being created and
communicated within carefully considered contexts. (Lippard, 1983, p. 5)