What is Art Activism? .- Mohamed Camara

What is Art Activism? 

Art activism is the act of using art in strategic ways to bring awareness for political change. 

Operation First Casualty 

    Operation First Casualty is where Iraq Veterans who are against war reenact the raids on Iraqi civilians to show them just how bad war could be. “Just walking around talking and marching wasn’t getting the point across,” explained Garett Reppenhagen, former U.S. Army sniper and chairman of the IVAW. “We wanted a demonstration that depicted what we wanted to show people. . . . I don’t have to talk to them, I don’t have to show them a piece of literature. They can see what we are doing, and see that the soldiers in Iraq are going through a hell of a time and the occupation is just really oppressive and violent.”

2. What is the message? 

Anti-War 

3. Who did it? 

Garret Reppenhagen former U.S. Army sniper and chairman of IVAW and Iraq veterans 

4. What do they address/protest?

A creative protest was staged by the Iraq Veterans Against the War in the streets of U.S. cities like Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C., Denver, and Los Angeles in 2007. Addresses that people don't understand the dangers of war. 

5.With/What Tools?

Military veterans, civilians, plastic tie, and a bag

An Introduction to Activist Art 

"One of the most important goals of activist art is to encourage social and political change. Just like Jacques-Louis David’s paintings promoted civic virtue and the abolishment of an old political system in order to create new and improved structures, contemporary artists use their works in similar ways." 

"Activist art can make these specific experiences visible and include them in historical, social, and political discourse."

    It was inspiring to see all the activist art from the past. It’s shocking that some of these issues still exist today, proving that art activism must never fade. Since the 18th century, artists have used their work to send messages and raise awareness about important issues. It makes me wonder why no one ever truly listens, but I guess we’ll never know unless we keep trying. The two quotes I chose highlight the power of art activism and how much change it can bring, although its messages at times tend to fall to deaf ears. 

The 25 Most Influential Works of American Protest Art Since World War II

"We discussed the silent work that art does — when it makes us brave and when it makes us believe in our collective capacity to create change."

"There were projections on it, it became an activist site. The transformation of that space, to me, felt like exactly what protest art is. The day I was there, I had a big camera with me, so multiple families would ask me to take their portrait in front of the statue, which I would do with their cellphones — and just in that way, it became activated. I’m really interested in ideas of activism in relationship to activating these sites."

    I love how it’s hard to pin down exactly what protest art is. The writers struggle to define it because what really determines if something is protest art? Is it the way it makes you feel, its message, or its impact? In the end, I think protest art is something that can be shared and embraced by the people, like the statue of Robert E. Lee. Once seen as a negative monument, it has been redefined in a more positive light, and appreciated by the public. There’s no violence, just art and a message.

Why Artistic Activism?

"Activism moves the material world, while Art moves the heart, body and soul."

"Artistic Activism is a practice aimed at generating Æffect: emotionally resonant experiences that lead to measurable shifts in power."

"Artistic activism – as an affective image, performance, or experience – is also well suited for an age of cell phone cameras and social networks. People don’t share policy papers, they share things that move them."

    This article accurately captures the relationship between art and activism, showing how they go hand in hand. While they may seem like two sides of the same coin, when combined, they become a powerful force. Activist art blends the entertainment and emotional pull of art with a deeper message; a call to action for change. I chose three quotes, but I could have included more; the passage was filled with powerful lines that highlight the impact of both art and activism when they come together. Activist art can take many forms, whether a painting, a performance, or something else entirely. Its message can be so powerful that it sparks change: stopping a war, overturning an unjust law, or shifting public perception.