Assignment 11/12 Chapter 5 - Ashley Robinson

Quote 1

“In order for us, as artistic activists, to employ facts in effective ways, it will be useful for us to have at least a basic understanding of how our minds and brains work. We can then present facts in ways that people can understand, integrate, and, most critically, act upon.”

Response:

This quote highlights that activism is not just about presenting information, it’s about presenting it effectively. Facts alone rarely change behavior. Understanding how people actually process information allows artists and activists to frame truths in cognitively approachable ways. It’s a reminder that art can bypass resistance by speaking to how people think, not just what they should think.

Quote 2

“We believe in what we already believe in, and you will never win the argument with your uncle, but, then again, he won't win it either. Arguing more fiercely for what you believe in is easier than admitting you're wrong and changing your mind. It gets worse still. Many of our neural pathways are created when we are young and—quite literally—impressionable. As we grow up, we develop ways of making sense of the world that ‘work’ for us.”

Response:

This quote shows the challenge activists face: beliefs are sticky. They are formed early, emotionally, and often unconsciously. Logic alone won’t undo them. This reinforces the importance of performance and art as tools that don’t confront people head-on but instead create experiences that can gently disrupt existing pathways and open space for new ones.

Performance Art Piece: “The Line We Walk”

A strip of tape divides the room into “What I Learned Early” and “What I Choose Now.” The performer walks slowly along the tape, trying to balance, whenever they step off the line, they place a sticky note on the wall behind that side. Audience members are invited to write their own beliefs and place them on either wall. As the notes accumulate, the room fills with the tension between inherited beliefs and chosen ones. When the walls are full, the performer steps onto the “What I Choose Now” side and quietly leaves.