We often hear talk of empathy as a solution to political fragmentation—especially in the art world. Artists, curators, museum educators, and others speak lately of art’s special role in helping to develop the kind of understanding that’s necessary to cross divides of class, race, affiliation, and so on. But what if empathy isn’t enough? What if—even worse—it’s counterproductive? By looking at the example of the 2017 Whitney Biennial protests and their aftermath, we can catch a glimpse of both the value and the limits of fellow feeling when it comes to working towards social justice.

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