3 quotes Introduction and chapter 3 History from The Art of Activism, Your All-Purpose Guide to Making the Impossible Possible by Steve Duncombe and Steve Lambert:
“Artistic expression and cultural creativity flourish among communities who are marginalized within formal spheres of politics, law, and education. We’ve also learned that artistic activism works particularly well in repressive regimes where overt political protest is prohibited, yet artistic practices are tolerated or even celebrated. And finally, we’ve learned that while culture is something we all share, we don’t all share the same culture” (Duncombe, Lambert 11)
- I have always been captivated by the conservation of cultural relativism and the concept of seeing color. I agree with this quote in that sense, we must recognize our differences and appreciate them, it is diversity that brings us together.
- The concept is applicable across many different situations but it is important to note and be mindful of. This quote in particular nods towards the concept of digesting our information. Making sure that we are learning from reliable sources and properly understanding the material. However, it also makes the point that perspective is everything and that art activism is a lens through which to view and portray the issues we care about.
- I feel that this quote encompasses the defining qualities of art activism. Though there are many contemporary forms of activism, using art allows activists to go beyond the limits of more common tactics. Art is defined by the artist and the individual, art activism creates interactive spaces for people to feel connected but also go deeper with their meaning and movement without the confines and preconceptions that come with protests or rallies and are engaging in ways that petitions and Instagram reposting is not.
Choose one project from any of the readings below (the textbook and exhibition catalog included) and post it to the blog with the details about it. Describe how this work is a 'performance' and how it engages or addresses the audience:
Khan Academy Performance Art An Introduction webpages(look through the various sections of this online course) https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-1010/conceptual-and-performance-art/performanceart/a/performance-art-an-introduction
2 quotes or 2 examples of performance art that stand out to you with a short response for each
“It often forces us to think about issues in a way that can be disturbing and uncomfortable, but it can also make us laugh by calling attention to the absurdities in life and the idiosyncrasies of human behavior.”
- Performance art opens up a different level of conversation surrounding its meaning in the sense that you have to pay attention as it happens. Unlike a portrait, you can’t sit and decipher meaning from it. Its meaning will be a collection of the immediate feelings it evokes upon watching it for the first time.
- Shiraga’s performance art stands out to me for his courage. This piece is not only a symbol of resistance in a time that was so heavily defined as a period of contempt and hiding in fear. This was just as beautiful and everlasting as art activism should be as it is still relevant today.
Widewalls | Yoko Ono - A Groundbreaking Artist, Activist and Fighter
https://www.widewalls.ch/magazine/yoko-ono-art-story
2 quotes and a short response to each quote
“she explained, art represents a way of showing people how you can think, and even though some people think of it as a beautiful wallpaper that you can sell, Yoko Ono rather perceives it as a direct connection with activism. Her style often included “dematerialization of the art object,” (Lansroth 2015).
- In order to be more creative, it’s important to recognize how we define art. Once identifying those bounds we have to look outside of those preconceived notions. Yoko Ono is a perfect example of that in the way that she uses art activism, she definitely helped pave the way so I can’t say she was ahead of her time but I like to believe that still applies regardless, I think people today are used to thinking how they’re taught/forced to think and books like Acorn should be more prevalent.
- Ono created an interactive book to engage her audience with her cause. This is an innovative way to incorporate activism, I have always believed that reading is one of the best ways to empathize and make connections through characters without preconceptions.
Hispanic Executive | Interview with Shaun Leonardo - Performance, Pedagogy, and Philosophy
https://hispanicexecutive.com/shaun-leonardo/
2 quotes and a short response to each quote
“we feel compelled to act, act, act—to respond, respond, respond—and artists don’t operate best in that rhythm. 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. Artists have to offer a different type of slowness to work against the speed of today” (Soto 2022).
- With the rise of performative activism, art activism is a necessary pause. While it is extremely reassuring that people are becoming more aware of the world outside of their daily lives both in and outside of the U.S. and it’s important to show up and make use of our privilege. Performative activism is only skin deep. Reposting infographics though helpful does not properly educate, social media as our main platform of activism may help spread the word but art activism allows our feelings on topics to ruminate, it allows us to go deeper and truly empathize with the causes we talk about online. It also allows one to feel actively involved in making a difference.
- Following the theme of using art activism to empathize, I believe Soto’s message is important during a time of such individualism. It is admirable to be able to create a space where those feelings can exist.
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