Ishmael Adams
Professor Doris Cacoilo
Activists, Interlopers and Pranksters Fall 2025
11/5/2025
Chapter 3: History
"The colonists understood that with effective staging they could create an image to be remembered"
Like a large majority of forms of activism, protesting and resistance symbols and stories are needed to give people something to rally behind. Symbols, if used as consistently intended are incorruptible in the minds of the general populous, forever linking whatever ideals onto that symbol.
"The message the activists sought to communicate was a gravely serious one, but they also understood that using humor in its delivery meant that it had a better chance of being heard."
Humor is often used in politics to get important and widespread issues to be noticed by the general public. In the current political climate Late Night Hosts are probably the biggest examples that come to mind, informing the general public of valuable news under the guise of comedy, though this form of news has been a factor since the medieval period. Jesters and entertainers of all kinds created comedic plays to talk about current news and the social issues brought on by society under the guise of comedy.
Chapter 4: Cognition
"But art is also used to challenge authority and privilege, often precisely by challenging how those in power see the world."
Art has been and is a reflection of the world since civilization started, and with that reflection producing opportunities to give a voice to the voiceless. Whether that voice's origin is from politics and protest movements, to people who have nowhere to live, to people how've been impacted by great tragedies. People tend to make art about what they see in the world, and more often than not what they feel they cannot change alone. It's only together, though communication that change can really come.
"This social perspective shapes what the artist sees and chooses to create, just as it shapes how others will see and make sense of their creations."
I think that's one of the beautiful things about art, that we're inspired by one another in such a way that we end up creating something wholly unique. You could have two artists from two different continents and social classes take inspiration from the same source and come up with two completely different ideas that become influential all on their own.
Yoko Ono: Widewalls
I couldn't gain access to the article. The link didn't show me the article, it only showed the most recent articles dedicated to art history.
Hispanic Executive: Interview with Shaun Leonardo
"Especially as I grew into my path as an educator, I found it equally important to share the work of my colleagues and those artists of color that inspired me with both young folks that I identified with (meaning those that looked like me) and white kids."
I think it goes without saying that representation, seeing yourself in any piece of media is important. It allows people without outside guidance to see that your goals are achievable and that the only roadblock getting in your way is your self.
"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."
Freedom means different things to different people all across not just America, but the world. To have the freedom to choose what freedom means to each of us is the great privilege we have as Americans. The fact that we can choose what it means lets us have the opportunity to be open to the different ways these freedoms are portrayed in art.
Performance Activism
My performance activism exercise is a fairly simple one, all it really involves is a small piece of paper and a pen or pencil. The first step of the performance is to take out or create a small piece of paper and draw on it. This drawing illustration should be illustrating something that makes you happy. It could be something big, like family, friends or it could be small, like taking a walk. After the illustration is done, write around the drawing positive affirmations of some kind, doesn't have to be super specific. Then for the final part of the performance, fold it into a small shape of some kind, like a square or triangle, then leave the folded paper on a counter or small space in the hallway of the art building.
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