The art of activism Chapter 9: Utopia
“The most radical art is not protest art but works that take us to another place, envision a different way of seeing, perhaps a different way of feeling.” That’s what this chapters is about: using our imagination to establish goals that inspire people"
At the end of the day this is what makes art special i suppose, it's a tool unlike any other, art allows us to give an experience to a viewer and take them to where we want them to go. I think there's something uniquely human about appreciating art, a piece of paper with some lines, some colors, a dance, a performance or a sculpture, we have so many unique assumptions and experiences about the world we inhabit, each person is unique and lives in their own reality. I'm not really sure on how to describe what I want to get to, but I think about, when I'm watching a cartoon, and the visuals and music get me emotional for example.
It sounds kind of dumb said like that but it's true, there's something about human made visuals or performances that can simply "scratch our way in a different way", as artist i think we hold the power to manipulate those feelings in a way in which we can communicate our ideas and feelings without using words. So if we want to move someone, truly reach deep down into their should, art is the greatest tool we have to accomplish that goal. Idk I just love seeing art and letting my imagination run wild, I'm sure that a lot of people feel that way!
getting rid of the problems we face does not guarantee that we arrive at a better outcome. Even if capitalism, patriarchy, and white supremacy were abolished, it wouldn’t really matter unless we are able to imagine an alternative to these structures.
I think that's what makes organizing ourselves to revolt the hardest, it feels impossible to ambition something different when you have lived your whole life under the same system that oppresses you. When you're conditioned to believe that things are "the way they're supposed to" then you won't have a will to change your living circumstances, you'll be less likely to take action against those who don't have your best interest in mind. what sucks is, every time you try to bring ideas of change people will tell you "well it sucks but it's the best system we have" which ain't true, things could be way better if we all truly wanted them to be.
I think the biggest issue is that going against oppression and unfairness is going against the status quo, it's fighting an uphill battle, swimming against the current, which will become exhausting. I think there's people profiting from keeping us upset, divided and hopeless. And i guess that when your whole life depends on said system it also makes it hard to actively reject it. I wish I had my own alternative for the way of things to be, I wish I could have permanent solutions, sadly I don't
Final Idea Post (Short)
So, I'm keeping up with my original idea of the painting, I'm planning on finishing my idea related to the Epstein files, mainly because it is a topic of which I'm truly concerned with. I think the image I created is too powerful not to be used. But I also want to get something positive out of this project, so what I'm planning on doing is to exhibit the painting in public areas, be it school or the streets and ask people what they want. Unlike the midterm I won't just hang a poster and let people walk past it, I want to stop people and ask their opinion, about the world, about their life and feelings. I think all of us are united by our struggle of living day to day. What i want to do is to give a platform for people to open up and share what's on their mind.
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