Part 1- Activism in community.
- The ALS Walk - It is a community fundraising and awareness event
- My Highschool, North Bergen Highschool, has an environmental club and they do cleanings every now and then for example they clean up trash from 3701 Tonnelle Avenue and it was sponsored by North Bergen Clean Communities, which is a statewide initiative that provides funding and resources for litter abatement through public education, volunteer clean ups, and enforcement.
- The place I work at, A G.A.P at the promenade in Edgewater, does several charity style things for example just recently we were able to get school supplies and donate them.
Part 2 - defining art activism.
Art Activism is a use of creative expression with art to inspire either social or political change. it doesn't use usual aesthetics instead using art as a sort of tool to raise awareness about certain problems that affect others, challenge injustices, and motivate collective action amongst the community and possibly beyond. "The broad term ‘activist art’ encompasses a great variety of artists, art forms, and objectives. It takes many forms of expression such as performance, painting, graffiti, or installations." (Graf)
Artwork chosen from the readings - The Yes Men
(I decided to choose The Yes Men however I couldn't get the image from the textbook so I found a image that is similar to it online)
The Yes Men are a good example of art activism. The Yes Men are activists who g around impersonating corporate and governmental spokesmen. They would stage elaborate hoaxes and create satirical performances. Their work often blurs the line between art and activism because it's both performative and politically driven. The Yes Men's acts raised awareness, challenged power structures, and inspired public engagement which are key goals to art activism.
WHY ARTISTIC ACTIVISM? - Quotes and short response
Quote #1 - "We may like to think of politics as a purely rational business, where sensible people logically discuss and debate the issues at hand, come to a reasoned decision, and then judiciously act. Certainly this is how politics has been taught to us in our civics classes. But as recent developments in cognitive science suggest, humans don’t think and behave this way: we make sense of our world through stories and symbols that frame the information we receive and then act accordingly. The principles governing civic action are more likely to be found in the worlds of popular culture and entertainment, and artistic expression and reception, than in textbooks of political science."
Short response - For the longest time I was like this. I believed in such simple understanding of government and politics more so because I never had a interest in politics or such things especially as a child learning from a social studies or history teacher. As I grew up however that mindset quickly changed. As time went on I realized politics isn't just about logic or debating and has a lot more nuance to it then most might think. Like this quote says I learned that political behavior is also influenced by creativity and expression as much as it is influenced by facts and reason.
Quote #2 - "I’m not political,” is a phrase one hears often; it’s a rare person, however, that doesn’t express themself through some form of creativity. We go dancing on the weekends, perform songs in our churches, compose raps with our friends, make memes for social media, customize bicycles, assemble scrapbooks, sew quilts, and prepare dinners for the table. While it takes years of professional training to practice (or even understand) law, policy analysis, or governmental lobbying, creativity is a skill we all already possess and can learn to hone and use to great æffect."
Short response - I agree with this quote. Growing up I never once considered myself a creative person yet I would still do creative things. Nor have I considered myself a political person but yet I can still hold a conversation about certain political figures or events. This quote suggests that art and creativity are accessible ways to participate in society and influence change. I may have never had put my creativity to full use outside of projects and work that would require it but it doesn't mean I am incapable of doing so without some practice and time.
An Introduction to Activist Art - Quotes and Short response
Quote #1 - "The broad term ‘activist art’ encompasses a great variety of artists, art forms, and objectives. It takes many forms of expression such as performance, painting, graffiti, or installations. The goals of activist artworks can also vary widely. Works can challenge racism, sexism, authoritarian regimes, or war. They usually have a common dominator, which is a focus on political and social issues with the intent to change or influence public opinion by confronting people with an unjust or problematic status quo."
Short response - This quote shows that activist are is so much more then what the name implies. It also shows just how diverse the uses of art could be. As a kid when I heard art I would just think of paintings, drawings, electronic art and just ways for people to express themselves through a medium that could reach others. This quote on the other hand shows that there is more to it then just expression for a single person but could be used to work towards spreading awareness and a potential change. On top of that it shows how graffiti, a art style that is usually associated with delinquents, could be used for something like activism if used and applied properly.
Quote #2 - "Another important goal of activist art is to create awareness of existing political and social issues. When the public is looking away from suffering that could be prevented or does not want to be confronted with it, activist art often creates a dialogue and forces people to think about these problems. Ai Weiwei’s Soleil Levant, 2017, publicly discussed the dangerous journey of refugees trying to reach Europe."
Short response - I find it important for people to see suffering to truly understand the actual stakes at what is happening. people can easily dismiss anything they read as propaganda or false but no one can deny something their seeing with their own two eyes. Most attempts at bringing awareness to something is usually met with a image of sorts to make sure people truly understand the importance of what is happening and how bad it is. An example I have is the image of Alan Kurdi's body. Alan Kurdi was a three year old Syrian refugee along with his mother and father but a high wave hit the boat they were traveling on and Alan along with his parents drowned, and a picture of his lifeless body that was washed up on a shore was taken and posted on the news. With that image being shown to so many people finally could truly understand what people go through and the suffering they can experience.
Artists Using Their Creativity to Drive Activism - Quotes and short response
(I chose the alternative article because I haven't been able to access the NY Times article)
Quote #1 - "There’s more than one way to be an activist, and that is to say, there’s more than one way to raise your voice and speak up in the name of change. One of these ways is through art and creativity. In every fight for justice there is a story to be told. Art is one of the most powerful tools we have for communicating those stories, sharing lived experiences, and fighting for global change in the mission to end extreme poverty and the systemic causes that drive it."
Short Response - This quote emphasizes that activism takes many forms, and one of the few impactful ways to advocate for change is through art and creativity. While traditional activism often focuses on protests, policy work, or organizing, artistic expression allows individuals to communicate messages in a way that is both emotional and accessible. Art can tell personal and collective stories, highlight systemic issues and give voice to any community that might otherwise be unheard. Using art to engage with others both visually and emotionally it can inspire empathy, or provoke critical thinking, or even mobilize action. It reminds us that every story matters, and sharing those stories creatively can be a push towards potential meaningful change and reaching audiences in ways traditional means wouldn't.
Quote #2 - "Ghada Amer, a trailblazing artist and relentless gender equity activist, fearlessly breaks boundaries and sparks conversations that challenge societal norms. Born in Egypt and now based in the United States, Amer draws inspiration from her multicultural background to create powerful and thought-provoking works of art. Driven by a desire to challenge stereotypes and celebrate women's empowerment, Amer's artistry (which primarily comes in the form of embroidery, but she's also known for painting, drawing, and sculpting) takes center stage."
Short response - Ghada Amer’s work is a compelling example of how art can serve as activism. Through her use of embroidery, painting, drawing, and sculpture, she confronts gender stereotypes and challenges societal norms, using her multicultural background as a source of inspiration. Amer’s art celebrates women’s empowerment and encourages viewers to question traditional ideas about gender roles. By combining creativity with a strong social message, her work sparks important conversations, raises awareness about inequality, and demonstrates that activism can take many forms beyond conventional political action.
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