Project Proposal Post - Zeyad Elshikh

Chapter 8 

Q1: "We all know that marketing is manipulation. It fuels capitalism through excessive consumption, fostering dissatisfaction and destroying the Earth. But we have tremendous respect for the intelligence and artistry of marketers, despite being horrified by what the marketing industry uses these talents for."

Marketing can definitely be manipulative, but it also shows how creative and persuasive people can be. The challenge is using those skills responsibly instead of feeding the worst parts of capitalism.

Q2: "We are always facing circumstances where our values conflict with one another, or the complexity of the situation pressures us to compromise"

Conflict between values is constant, and compromise is often unavoidable.

Chapter 9 

Q1: "Being so close to the issues we are struggling with, we often get caught up in the immediate problems we face."

When we’re too close to our struggles, the immediate stress can overshadow the broader context

Q2: "Our goals need to encompass our most personal fantasies and our common aspirations. They need to be sufficiently broad-reaching to guide our journeys and attractive to others so that they want to join us."

The best goals blend what drives us personally with what inspires others. When our vision resonates beyond ourselves, it becomes something people want to be part of.

Performance Plan: “Every Step Tells a Story”

For my final performance intervention, I will continue on my mid-term idea and create a crosswalk-centered installation called “Every Step Tells a Story,” using empty pairs of shoes to represent pedestrians involved in real accidents in Jersey City. The shoes will be arranged directly around a crosswalk near NJCU, symbolizing the lives that were interrupted in these spaces. Each pair will stand for a person who was struck, injured, or killed while crossing the street, a visual reminder of the vulnerability of pedestrians and the shared responsibility between drivers and walkers. This installation transforms an everyday location into a memorial-like site, prompting passersby to momentarily step out of their usual routine and confront the human cost of inattention on the road.

During the live performance, I will walk slowly through the path of shoes, pausing at each pair as if acknowledging the presence of the person who once occupied them. This slow, intentional movement mirrors the reflective rituals discussed in The Art of Activism book, where the authors emphasize how symbols and storytelling can disrupt normal spaces and provoke emotional awareness. As I pause at each pair, I will speak short, simple lines aloud, such as “Someone didn’t stop,” “Someone didn’t look,” and “These shoes should still be walking.” These statements function as a spoken narrative of loss, directly engaging viewers and grounding the visual installation in lived reality. My voice and movement become an embodiment of the issue, transforming myself into part of the symbol.