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Many ask if “art is a waste of time,” but art and art alone, has the unique ability to command attention to many issues. It is most effective in sparking a dialogue around social issues, a meaningful dialogue that results in long lasting change. Titus Kaphar, in his TED Talk talks about his art and his goal to amend our history and culture specifically within the art world to fit in accordance with our values today. Titus Kaphar’s art contains the accentuation the placement of the black characters which highlights the intense racial prejudice within the more contemporary paintings. Within these original paintings, black people are often hidden in the background or smaller and behind white characters in the paintings. This is a subliminal and often times overt depiction of racial prejudice which Kaphar hopes to amend. By altering these paintings, Kaphar is able to show that progress has been made and that further progress is achievable. Kaphar’s usage of art however, is in direct contradiction with the philosophies of Effective Altruists. They tend to only see art as a personal indulgence, as a selfish endeavor. Kaphar understands this perspective and believes that his art, with it’s strong symbolism, has the ability to ignite a dialogue about the extensive and ugly history of racism within society and art.