"The Art of Activism," Duncombe and Lambert
“If facts are to be heard and heeded, they need to be made into engaging stories and compelling images that capture people’s attention and resonate with the ways they make sense of their world". (Duncombe & Lambert, 6)
This quote speaks about the practice of combining facts with captivating narratives in order to increase their impact and chances of reception. This is prominent in this book, "The Art of Activism," as Duncombe and Lambert continuously accompany points and lessons with related, captivating stories and examples.
“This is the historical Jesus: the Mediterranean Jewish peasant taking on religious authorities and the Roman Empire and building a revolutionary movement two millennia ago. Not Jesus Christ, but Jesus of Nazareth. We are interested not in the divine figure but in the on-the-ground militant. Jesus was, among other things, an activist and an organizer, and, judging by the two thousand-year lifespan and global spread of his message and movement, a pretty good one”. (Duncombe & Lambert, 88)
I favor this particular quote and the paragraphs that follow it as they illuminate what Duncombe and Lambert think about the actions of Jesus and why they feel he did some of the most controversial things he did, because they made a lot of sense. This was an eye-opener for me, as it gave me an opportunity to look at Jesus’ teachings from the perspective of an activist while showcasing the usefulness of public demonstrations and the deep connection between activism and history.
“A great deal of activism and political art is directed toward criticizing what we don’t like. Occasionally, it suggests the steps we might need to take to change things.” (Duncombe & Lambert, 102)
This quote asserts that, even though criticism is a necessary form of checking someone or something, without viable solutions or feasible guidelines to accompany it, there will be an absence of change and impact.
Khan Academy Performance Art
"We have to reclaim time itself, wrenching it from the 'time is money' maximum efficiency, and make room for it to flow the other way—towards us. We must take time back into ourselves to let our consciousness breathe and our cluttered minds be still and silent. This is what art can do and what museums can be in today’s world." (Bill Viola, the Crossing, Khan Academy, n.d.)
This quote resonates with me because it points out the need to be still and reconnect with yourself as we live in a noisy world with constant distraction while suggesting that art may offer the mental tranquility we seek.
“Following World War II, performance emerged as a useful way for artists to explore philosophical and psychological questions about human existence. For this generation, who had witnessed destruction caused by the Holocaust and atomic bomb, the body offered a powerful medium to communicate shared physical and emotional experiences." (Performance Art: An Introduction | Khan Academy, n.d.)
This quote emphasizes the significance of the human body as a tool or medium to convey tone and express emotions that cannot be expressed properly in writing or drawing.
Widewalls | Yoko Ono
“Even though she was frequently criticized and even ostracized by the press and the public, she fought her way through all the hardships with her creativity and challenging artwork”. (Yoko Ono - a Groundbreaking Artist, Activist and Fighter Behind the Myth of Her Name | Widewalls, n.d.)
This highlights Yoko Ono’s resilience in the midst of intense hardships as she continued pursuing her artistic vision, expressing herself through her unconventional artwork.this shows me the importance of staying true to my creative vision even if it falls under scrutiny.
“With each successive generation, her blend of artwork and activism found a new audience, breaking her infamous status, one piece at a time.” (Yoko Ono - a Groundbreaking Artist, Activist and Fighter Behind the Myth of Her Name | Widewalls, n.d.)
This proves the longevity of performance art, as its simplicity allows it remain relevant even in changing times.
Hispanic Executive | Interview with Shaun Leonardo
“Through this workshop process, we looked at what a contemporary reinterpretation of those freedoms could be through the lives of those community members. And the result was a series of narratives where these participants spoke about how they believed freedom was afforded, or not, but also about the ways in which we embody those narratives.” (Soto, 2022)
Here he speaks on how differently people perceive freedom in their lives, ranging between different aspects such as societal, political, personal, and psychological dimensions of freedom
"Artists need to take in, to process, to decipher, to separate from the noise and create things that are beautiful and impactful to the spirit"(Soto, 2022)
In this quote, Shaun speaks about the overwhelming nature of information and distractions in the world suggesting that artists must filter through this chaos to find what truly resonates with them and use that as inspiration for their creative endeavors.
I consider Yoko Ono’s “Cut Piece” to be a significant performance art piece involving audience participation due to its interactive nature which encourages dialogue between Her and the audience. The performance typically involves Ono sitting motionless on stage, dressed in her best suit or clothing, while a pair of scissors is placed in front of her. The audience is invited, one by one, to approach her and use the scissors to cut off a piece of her clothing.
Works cited
Bill Viola, The Crossinge|Khan Academy (n.d.) Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-1010/conceptual-and-performance-art/performanceart/a/viola-the-crossing
Duncombe, S., & Lambert, S. (2021, November 2). The Art of Activism, OR Books
Bill Viola, The Crossing | Khan Academy (n.d.) Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-1010/conceptual-and-performance-art/performanceart/a/viola-the-crossing
Yoko Ono - A Groundbreaking Artist, Activist and Fighter behind the Myth of her Name | Widewalls. (n.d.). https://www.widewalls.ch/magazine/yoko-ono-art-story
Soto, E. (2022, July 1). Performance, Pedagogy, and Philosophy. Hispanic Executive. https://hispanicexecutive.com/shaun-leonardo/
No comments:
Post a Comment