What is Art Activism? Post 3

Part 1

1.) Signing a petition

2.) Studying policy

3.) Listening to a public speech

Part 2

    The Undocubus was an activist art project formed by a group of undocumented immigrants in 2012 in protest against the certain anti-immigrant policies prevalent at the time, including police officers being deputized for the sole purpose of arresting suspected illegals. The Undocubus was driven all the way from Arizona to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina and made stops along the way to further protest. This is an example of art activism because it is specific to this time period and the element of the bus itself added a level of performance.

Part 3

The Art of Activism

1.) "Making rational decisions based upon informed and reasoned discussions is a worthy ideal."

-I try to make the "right" choice based on what I know every day, but my emotions make me act in ways I cannot predict.

2.) "Politics is about people's perceptions of the truth, their feelings about facts, and their visceral experiences of the world."

-The idea that feelings run the world rather than facts always scared me. Juries decide a defendant's fate based on the way they're dressed or their personality rather than evidence. Information can be twisted to support an illogical narrative. Politicians disturb me the most.

An Introduction to Activist Art

1.) "The interests, hardships, and experiences of marginalized groups are often underrepresented or not discussed at all."

    -I often think about all the deaths caused by ICE agents in the past year, and how only recently more people have begun to be outraged due to the deaths of non-immigrants.

2.) "One of the most important goals of activist art is to encourage social and political change."

    -I read from The Art of Activism that activist art is specific to what exactly it's protesting at that moment, and so each piece of art is unique. I wonder how many pieces of activist art have been created from both sides for the same issue.

Artists Using Their Creativity to Drive Activism

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."

    -I like that there are so many ways to fight for change in your community. Outrage against injustice is universal, and everyone deserves to be heard.

2.) "In every fight for justice there is a story to be told."

    -Everyone has been hurt by someone or something in their community. I've had my own negative experiences with the current administration. I hope to one day find a way to fight for the people I care about using those experiences.